HOW 

WOMEN 

SHOULD 
RIDE i 




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HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



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BY 



C. DE HURST" tr v^y^tj^A^A.a 



ILLUSTRATED 




NEW YORK 

HARPER & BROTHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE 

1892 



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Copyright, 1892, by Harper & Brothers. 

Ail rights reserved. 



TO 

E. E. F. 

TO WHOM I OWE THE EXPERIENCE 
WHICH HAS ENABLED ME TO WRITE OF RIDING 

THIS BOOK 

IS GRATEFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY 
DEDICATED 



INTRODUCTION 



It has not been the intention of the 
author of this Httle volume to present 
the reader with elaborate chapters of 
technical essays. 

Entire libraries have been written on 
the care and management of the horse 
from the date of its foaling ; book upon 
book has been compiled on the best and 
proper method of acquiring some degree 
of skill in the saddle. The author has 
scarcely hoped, therefore, to exhaust in 
248 pages a subject which, after having 
been handled on the presses of nearly 
every publisher in this country and Eng- 
land, yet contains unsettled points for 



VI INTRODUCTION 

the discussion of argumentative horse- 
men and horse-women. 

But it happens with riding — as, indeed, 
it does with almost every other subject 
— that we ignore the simpler side for the 
more intricate. We delve into a master- 
piece, suitable for a professional, on the 
training of a horse, when the chances 
are we do not know how to saddle him. 
We stumble through heavy articles on 
bitting, the technical terms of which we 
do not understand, when if our own 
horse picked up a stone we probably 
would be utterly at a loss what to do. 

We, both men and women, are too 
much inclined to gallop over the funda- 
mental lessons, which should be conned 
over again and again until thoroughly 
mastered. We are restive in our novi- 
tiate period, impatient to pose as past- 
masters in an art before we have ac- 
quired its first principles. 



INTRODUCTION VU 

Beginning with a bit of advice to 
parents, of which they stand sorely in 
need, it is the purpose of this book to 
carry the girl along the bridle-path, from 
the time she puts on a habit for the first 
attempt, to that when she joins the 
Hunt for a run across country after the 
hounds. 

There is no intention of wearying and 
confusing her by a formidable array of 
purely technical instruction. 

The crying fault with nearly all those 
who have handled this subject at length 
has been that of distracting the un- 
informed reader by the most elaborate 
dissertation on all points down to the 
smallest details. 

This author, on the contrary, has 
shorn the instruction of all hazy in- 
tricacies, with which the equestrienne 
has so often been asked to burden her- 
self, and brought out instead only those 



Viii INTRODUCTION 

points essential to safety, skill, and grace 
in the saddle. 

No space has been wasted on unnec- 
essary technicalities which the woman 
is not likely to either understand or care 
to digest, but everything has been writ- 
ten with a view of aiding her in obtain- 
ing a sound, practical knowledge of the 
horse, under the saddle and in harness. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I 

A Word to Parents Page 3 

Dangers of Early Riding, 4. — Vanity, 9. 

CPIAPTER II 

Girls on Horseback 13 

Hints to Mothers, 13. — The Beginner's 
Horse, 14. — Costuming, 16. — Preparatory 
Lessons, 16. — Instructors, 20. — Balance, 21. 
— Hands, 23. — Position, 25. — Management, 
26. 

CHAPTER III 

Beginning to Ride 31 

Form, 32. — Insufficient Training, 33. — 

Mounting, 34. — Dismounting, 37. — Stirrup, 

38. 

CHAPTER IV 

In the Saddle 43 

Below the Waist, 44. — Above the Waist, 48. 
— Hands and Wrists, 49. — Reins, 53. 



X CONTENTS 

CHAPTER V 
Emergencies 63 

Eagerness to Start, 63.— Shyers, 65. — Stum- 
blers, 66. — Rearers, 66. — Plungers, 67. — 
Buckers, 68. — Pullers, 70. — Runaways, 72. 
— Punishment, 76. 

CHAPTER VI 
Choosing a Mount 83 

An Adviser, 83. — Park Hack, 87. — Measure- 
ment, 88. — Conformation, 90. — Hunter, 94. 
— Gait and Manners, 95, 

CHAPTER VII 

Dress 99 

Skirt, 100. — Safety Skirt, 100. — Divided 
Skirt, 102. — Bodice, 103. — Waistcoat, 104, 
— Corsets, 105. — Boots, Breeches, Tights, 
106. — Collars and Cuffs, no. — Gloves, in. 
— Hair and Hat, 112. — Veil, 113. — Whip 
or Crop, 113. — Spur, 114. 

CHAPTER VIII 
Leaping 121 

Requirements, 121. — In the Ring, 122. — 
Approaching Jump, 122. — Taking off, 124. 
— Landing, 125. — Lifting, 126. — Out-of- 
Doors, 127. — Pilot, 128. — Selecting a Panel, 



CONTENTS Xi 

128.— Stone Wall, 130. — In Hand, 131. — 
Trappy Ground and Drops, 131. — In and 
Out, 133. — Picket and Slat P^ences, 134. — 
Wire, 135. — Combined Obstacles, 136. — 
Refusing, 136. — Timidity, 137. — Temper, 
138. — Rider at Fault, 139. 

CHAPTER IX 

Leaping (continued) 145 

Rushers, 145. — Balkers, 147. — Sluggards, 
149. — Falls, 150. 

CHAPTER X 

Riding to Hounds 159 

Courtesy, 159. — The Novice, i6r. — Hard 
Riding, 162. — Jealous Riding, 163. — De- 
sirable Qualities, 164. — Getting Away, 165. 
— Indecision, 166. — Right of Way, 167. — 
Funk, 168. — Excitable and Sluggish Horses, 
169. — Proximity to Hounds, 170. — Choos- 
ing a Line, 172. 

CHAPTER XI 

Sympathy between Horse and Woman 179 

Talking to Horse, iSc— In the Stall, 183. 
— On the Road, 185. — Cautions, 1S7. 



Xii CONTENTS 

CHAPTER XII 

Practical Knowledge of the Stable 193 

Stabling, 193. —Picking up Feet, 194.— 
Grooming, 197.— Bitting, 197. — Clipping, 
199. — Bridling, 200. — Noseband, 202. — 
Martingale, 203. — Breast-plate, 204. — The 
Saddle, 205. — Stirrup, 208, — Girths, 209. — 
Saddling, 210. 

CHAPTER XIII 

Something on Driving 215 

Desirability of Instruction, 215. — Vulgar 
Display, 218. — Bad Form, 219. — Costume, 
220. — Cockade, 221. — Confidence, 222. — 
The Family-Horse Fallacy, 222. — On the 
Box, 223. — Position of Reins, 224. — Hand- 
ling Reins, 225. — A Pair, 226. 

CHAPTER XIV 

Something more on Driving 231 

Management, 231. — Stumbling, 232.— Back- 
ing, 232, — Rearing and Kicking, 234. — 
Rein under Tail, 236. — Bolting and Run- 
ning, 238, — Crowded Driveways, 239. — 
Road Courtesy, 241. — Tandems and Teams, 
243. — Reins, 244. — Unruly Leader, 245. — 
Turning, 246. 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



Correct Positioin ... Facing p. 24 

Incorrect Position " 26 

Incorrect Left Leg and Heel 43 

Correct Left Leg and Heel 44 

Incorrect Right Thigh and Knee 46 

Correct Right Thigh and Knee 47 

Correct Knuckles, Side View 50 

Incorrect Position of Hands 51 

Hands in Good Form, P'ront View 52 

Snaffle Outside, Curb Inside, Front View 54 
Snaffle Outside, Curb Inside, Side View. . 55 
Reins in Two Hands, Snaffle Outside, 

Curb Inside Facing p. 56 

Position of Reins and Hands in Jumping, 

Curb Outside, Snaffle Inside 57 

Reins in Two Hands, Curb Outside, Snaf- 
fle Inside, Side View 58 

PIands and Seat in Rearing Facing p. 66 

Crop 114 

A Good Spur , 115 



XIV ILLUSTRATIONS 

Taking Off Facing p. 124 

About TO Land " 126 

Double Bridle for General Use. " 202 

Correct Saddle 205 

Undesirable Saddle 206 

Safety Stirrup, Closed 209 

Safety Stirrup, Open 210 

A Well-balanced Cart Facing p. 220 

Position in Tandem Driving " 244 



I 

A WORD TO PARENTS 



RIDING has been taken up so gener- 
ally in recent years by the mature 
members of society that its espousal by 
the younger element is quite in the nat- 
ural order of events. We can look upon 
the declaration of Young America for 
sport with supreme gratification, as it 
argues well for the generation to come, 
but we should not lose sight of the 
fact that its benefits may be more than 
counterbalanced by injudiciously forcing 
these tastes. That there is danger of 
this is shown by the tendency to put girls 
on horseback at an age much too tender 
to have other than harmful results. 

It is marvellous that a mother who 
is usually most careful in guarding her 



4 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

child's safety should allow her little one 
to incur the risks attendant upon riding 
(which are great enough for a person en- 
dowed with strength, judgment, and de- 
cision) without proper consideration of 
the dangers she is exposed to at the 
time, or a realization of the possible 
evil effects in the future. 

Surely parents do not appreciate what 
the results may be, or they would never 
Dangers of trust a girl of eight years or 
Early Riding thereabouts to the mercy of 
a horse, and at his mercy she is bound 
to be. No child of that age, or several 
years older, has strength sufficient to 
manage even an unruly pony, which, 
having once discovered his power, is 
pretty sure to take advantage of it at 
every opportunity ; and no woman is 
worthy the responsibilities of mother- 
hood who will permit her child to make 
the experiment. 



A WORD TO PARENTS 5 

Even if no accident occurs, the 
knowledge of her helplessness may so 
frighten the child that she will never 
recover from her timidity. It is non- 
sense to say she will outgrow it ; early 
impressions are never entirely eradi- 
cated ; and should she in after-life ap- 
pear to regain her courage, it is almost 
certain at a critical moment to desert 
her, and early recollections reassert 
themselves. 

The vagaries of her own mount are 
not the only dangers to which the un- 
fortunate child is exposed. 

Many accidents come from collisions 
caused by some one else's horse bolt- 
ing; and it is not to be expected, when 
their elders often lose their wits com- 
pletely, that shoulders so young should 
carry a head cool enough to make es- 
cape possible in such an emergency. 

It is a common occurrence to hear 



6 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

parents inquiring for a ''perfectly safe 
horse for a child." 

Such a thing does not exist, and the 
idea that it does often betrays one 
into trusting implicitly an animal which 
needs perhaps constant watching. If 
fresh or startled, the capers of the most 
gentle horse will not infrequently create 
apprehension, because totally unexpect- 
ed. On the other hand, if he is too 
sluggish to indulge in any expressions 
of liveliness, he is almost sure to re- 
quire skilful handling and constant urg- 
ing to prevent his acquiring a slouch- 
ing gait to which it is difficult to rise. 

A slouching horse means a stumbling 
one, and, with the inability of childish 
hands to help him recover his balance, 
he is likely to fall. 

Supposing the perfect horse to be a 
possibility — a girl under sixteen has not 
the physique to endure without injury 



A WORD TO PARENTS 7 

to her health such violent exercise as 
riding. From the side position she is 
forced to assume, there is danger of an 
injured spine, either from the unequal 
strain on it or from the constant con- 
cussion, or both. 

If a mother can close her eyes to 
these dangers, insisting that her child 
shall ride, a reversible side-saddle is the 
best safeguard that I know of against a 
curved spine ; but it only lessens the 
chances of injury, and is by no means 
a sure preventive, although it has the 
advantage of developing both sides 
equally. 

Another evil result of beginning too 
young is that if she escapes misadvent- 
ures and does well, a girl is sure to be 
praised to such an extent that she 
forms a most exaggerated idea of her 
prowess in the saddle. By the time 
she is sixteen she is convinced that 



8 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

there is no room for improvement, and 
becomes careless, lapsing into many of 
her earlier faults. Parents should guard 
against this. It is often their affection 
which permits them to see only the 
good points of their daughter's riding, 
and their pride in her skill leads to un- 
due flattery, which she is only too will- 
ing to accept as her due. 

Later I shall mention some of the 
principles a young rider should acquire, 
and it is the duty of those who have 
put her in the saddle when too young 
to judge for herself to see that she fol- 
lows them correctly. The necessity of 
riding in good form cannot be too firm- 
ly impressed on her mind. One often 
hears: ** Oh, I only want to ride a little 
in the Park; so don't bother me about 
form. I ride for pleasure and comfort, 
not work " — all of which is wrong ; for, 
whether in the Park, on the road, in the 



A WORD TO PARENTS 9 

country, or in the hunting-field, nothing 
is of more importance than to ride in 
good form. To do so is to ride easily, 
being in the best position to manage 
the horse, and therefore it is also to 
ride safely. 

The desire to attract attention often 

induces women to ride. Young girls 

soon learn to do likewise, and their 

Vanity 

attempts at riding for the " gal- 
lery " by kicking the horse with the heel, 
jerking its mouth with the curb, that she 
may impress people with her dashing ap- 
pearance, as the poor tormented animal 
plunges in his endeavors to avoid the 
pressure, are lamentable and frequent 
sights in many riding-schools. 

Objectionable as this is in an older 
person, it is doubly so in a child, from 
whom one expects at least modesty in- 
stead of such boldness as this betokens. 
It is to be hoped that those in authority 



lO HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

will discourage her attempts at circus 
riding, and teach her that a quiet, unob- 
trusive manner will secure her more 
admirers than an air of bravado. 



II 

GIRLS ON HORSEBACK 



NOTWITHSTANDING these nu- 
merous reasons to the contrary, 
mothers will undoubtedly continue to 
Hints to imperil the life and welfare of 
Mothers children whom it is their mission 
to protect, and, such being the case, a 
few directions as to the best and least 
dangerous course to pursue may be of 
service to them. 

Sixteen is the earliest age at which a 
girl should begin to ride, as she is then 
strong enough to control her mount, has 
more judgment, is better able to put 
instruction into practice, more amena- 
ble to reason, and more attentive to 
what is told her. If the parents' im- 
patience will not admit of waiting until 



14 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

this desirable period, it is their duty to 
see that the child has every advantage 
that can facilitate her learning, and to 
assure her such safety as is within their 
power. 

A common theory is that any old 
screw, if only quiet, will do for a be- 
The Beginner's ginner. Nothing could be 

Horse more untrue. The horse 
for a novice should have a short but 
square and elastic trot, a good mouth, 
even disposition, and be well-mannered; 
otherwise the rider's progress will be 
greatly impeded. Even if the child is 
very young, I think it is a mistake to 
put her on a small pony for her first les- 
sons, as its gaits are so often uneven, 
interfering with all attempts at regu- 
lar rising to the trot. 

Ponies are also more liable to be 
tricky than horses, and, from the ra- 
pidity of their movements, apt to un- 



•GIRLS ON HORSEBACK 1 5 

seat and frighten a beginner. They 
are very roguish, and will bolt across a 
road without any reason, or stand and 
kick or rear for their own amusement; 
and, being so quick on their feet, their 
various antics confuse a child so that 
she loses her self-possession and be- 
comes terrified. It is just as bad to go 
to the other extreme, as a large, long- 
gaited horse will tire the muscles of the 
back, and, if combined with sluggish ac- 
tion, require twice the exertion needed 
for a free traveller. Furthermore, it de- 
stroys the rhythm of the movement by 
making the time of her rise only half 
as long as necessary, thus giving her a 
double jolt on reaching the saddle. 

Having secured the right sort of 
horse, the saddle should be chosen 
with great care. 

It is a shame that little girls are 
made to ride in the ill-fitting habits 



1 6 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

seen half the time. They must set prop- 
erly, or the best riders will be 

Costuming , ,. 11 

handicapped and appear at a 

disadvantage. A child's skirt should 
not wrinkle over the hips more than a 
woman's, nor should it ruck up over the 
right knee, exposing both feet, while 
the wind inflates the superfluous folds. 
Above all things, a girl should not lace 
nor wear her habit bodice tight, as no 
benefit can possibly be derived from 
riding with the lungs and ribs com- 
pressed. 

It often happens that a child is put 
into the saddle before she has had the 
Preparatory opportunity of becoming fa- 
Lessons miliar with a horse, either by 
visiting it in its stall or going about it 
when in the stable. A more harmful 
mistake could not be made; the child 
is likely to be afraid of the animal the 
first time she is placed on its back, and 



GIRLS ON HORSEBACK I7 

nothing so interferes with tuition as 
terror. Many of the difficulties of in- 
structing a little girl will be overcome 
if her familiarity with the horse she is 
to ride has given her confidence in him. 
She should frequently be taken to the 
stable, and encouraged to give him oats 
or sugar from her hand, and to make 
much of him. Meanwhile whoever is 
with her must watch the animal, and 
guard against anything which might 
startle the child. She may be lifted 
on to his back ; and if he is suitable 
to carry her, he will stand quietly, thus 
assuring her of his trustworthiness and 
gaining her affection. 

Before being trusted on a horse, a 
beginner should have the theory of 
its management explained to her; and 
here is another drawback to infantile 
equestrianism, as a young mind cannot 
readily grasp the knowledge. Never- 
2 



l8 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

theless, she must be made to under- 
stand the necessity of riding from bal- 
ance, instead of pulling herself up by 
the horse's mouth, and be shown the 
action of the curb chain on the chin, 
that she may realize why the snaffle 
should be used for ordinary purposes, 
so that in case of an emergency she 
may have the curb to fall back upon. 
She must know that if she pulls against 
him, the horse will pull against her, and 
therefore she must not keep a dead 
bearing on his mouth. Unyielding 
hands are the almost invariable result 
of riding before realizing the delicate 
manipulation a horse's mouth requires. 
A light feeling on the curb and a light 
touch of the whip will show her how 
to keep the horse collected, instead of 
allowing him to go in a slovenly man- 
ner. 

She must not try to make the horse 



GIRLS ON HORSEBACK 1 9 

trot by attempting to rise. Until the 
animal is trotting squarely she should 
sit close to the saddle, instead of bob- 
bing up and down, as he jogs or goes 
unevenly at first. 

When wishing to canter, in place 
of tugging at the reins, clucking, and 
digging the animal in the ribs with 
her heel, the child should be told to 
elevate her hands a trifle, and touch 
him on the shoulder with the whip. 

No habit is more easily formed than 
that of clucking to a horse, and it is a 
difficult one to cure. It is provocative 
of great annoyance to any one who is 
near, and who may be riding a high- 
spirited animal, as it makes him ner- 
vous and anxious to go, for he cannot 
tell whether the signal is meant for 
him or not, and springs forward in re- 
sponse, when his owner has perhaps 
just succeeded in quieting him. Thus 



20 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

can one make one's self an annoyance 
to others near by, in a manner which 
might so easily have been avoided in 
the beginning. 

After being familiarized with such ru- 
dimentary ideas of horsemanship, comes 
the time for putting them into practice. 

It is a pity that there are not more 
competent instructors in the riding- 
schools, for it is of great im- 
Instructors 

portance to begm correctly; to 

find a teacher, however, who possesses 
thorough knowledge of the subject is, 
unfortunately, rare. Their inefficiency 
is amply demonstrated by the speci- 
mens of riding witnessed every day in 
the Park ; and either their methods, if 
they pretend to have any, must be all 
wrong, or they are but careless and su- 
perficial mentors, as the results are so 
often far from satisfactory. 

There are, to be sure, plenty of teach- 



GIRLS ON HORSEBACK 2 1 

ers who ride well themselves, but that 
is a very different matter from impart- 
ing the benefit of their knowledge and 
experience to others. With the best in- 
tentions in the world, they may fail to 
make their pupils show much skill in 
the saddle. Skill, and the power of 
creating it in the pupil, is an unusual 
combination. 

If a young girl is to ride, she should 
be put in the saddle and not permitted 

to touch the reins. Her hands 
Balance • i , i i i 

may rest m her lap, and the horse 

should be led at a walk, while the teach- 
er shows her the position she must try 
to keep, and tells her what she must do 
when the pace is increased. As she be- 
comes used to the situation, and under- 
stands the instructions, the horse may 
be urged into a slow trot, she being made 
to sit close, without, at first, any attempt 
at rising. Then a quiet canter may be 



22 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

given her, but on no account should the 
child be allowed to clutch at anything 
to assist in preserving her balance. It 
is that she shall not rely on the horse's 
mouth for balance that I have advocated 
keeping the reins from her, and it is a 
plan which men and women would do 
well to adopt. Dependence on the reins 
is one of the commonest faults in riding, 
and every one should practise trotting 
(and even jumping, if the horse be trac- 
table) with folded arms, while the reins 
are left hanging on the animal's neck, 
knotted so they will not fall too low. 
If the importance of riding from bal- 
ance above the waist were more gener- 
ally recognized, the seat would of ne- 
cessity be firmer, the hands lighter, and 
horses less fretful. 

Too much emphasis cannot be put on 
the importance of good hands. Good 
hands are hands made so by riding 



GIRLS ON HORSEBACK 23 

independently of the reins. Intuitive 
knowledge of the horse's inten- 

Hands , , 

tions, sympathy and communi- 
cation with him, which are conveyed 
through the reins in a manner too sub- 
tle for explanation, must accompany 
light hands to make them perfect. Such 
qualities are absolutely impossible with 
heavy hands, which are incapable of the 
necessary delicate manipulation of the 
horse's mouth. Light hands, therefore, 
should be cultivated first, and experi- 
ence may bring the rest. A child, be- 
ginning as I have advised, will early 
have this instilled into her mind, and 
not be obliged to overcome heavy 
hands when from experience she has 
learned their disadvantages. 

After sitting close to the trot and the 
canter, the beginner must be told to rise 
to the trot. At first she will find it dif- 
ficult to make her effort correspond to 



GIRLS ON HORSEBACK 25 

Now, as the child begins to have con- 
fidence in herself, is the time to guard 
against the formation of bad habits, 
which would later, if uncorrected, be 
difilicult to eradicate. 

If parents will take the trouble to 
make an impartial criticism of their 
daughter's riding, they can aid her by- 
insisting upon her doing as she ought, 
which is beyond the authority of the 
riding-master. 

They should see that her body is held 

erect, her shoulders squarely to the front 

and thrown back, head up, chin 

Position 

held back, arms hanging straight 
to the elbows, hands low and close to- 
gether, her right knee immovable, as 
from there she must rise. Her left leg 
must be held quiet, and the heel away 
from the horse, the ball of the foot rest- 
ing on the stirrup ; but she must be kept 
from placing too much reliance on that 



GIRLS ON HORSEBACK 27 

his heels ; but if she cannot succeed in 
doing this, she must endeavor to get 
clear of him and as far away as possi- 
ble, to avoid being rolled on or tram- 
pled upon as he makes his effort to 
get up. 

When I consider the trials and dan- 
gers she must pass through, a girl who 
is allowed to ride before she is sixteen 
has my sympathy, while I look with 
indignation on the mothers who thus 
thoughtlessly expose children to all 
the evils attendant upon a too early 
attempt at riding. 



Ill 

BEGINNING TO RIDE 



'' I ^HAT riding is increasing in popu- 
-*• larity is clearly attested by the 
crowded bridle-path of Central Park. It 
is greatly to be hoped, however, that 
with its growth in public favor a more 
than superficial knowledge of horseman- 
ship will be sought for by those who de- 
sire to experience all the pleasure which 
may be derived from this sport. Wom- 
en especially, laboring as they do under 
the disadvantages of a side-saddle and 
imperfectly developed muscles, should 
try to follow the most efificacious means 
of managing their horses, a result best 
attained by riding in good form. 

Even those who consider themselves 
first-class horsewomen, and who are un- 



32 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

doubtedly competent to manage an un- 
ruly animal, often have defects in 

Form 

form which destroy the grace and 
ease of their appearance, and prevent 
them, in case of an emergency, from 
employing the full amount of power of 
which they are capable. Besides this, 
there are so many benefits to be de- 
rived from the exercise — if one will 
take it in a common-sense manner — that 
every endeavor should be made to ex- 
tract from it the full amount of good. 

This cannot be done with any un- 
due strain on the muscles arising from 
either a poor saddle, a back bent almost 
double, the arms nearly pulled out by 
improper handling of the horse's mouth, 
or with that abomination — a tight waist. 
Sense in dressing and attention to form 
are the two indispensable attributes by 
which women can make riding a means 
to improved health. Under such con- 



BEGINNING TO RIDE ^^ 

ditions all the organs are stimulated, 
and good digestion, an increased appe- 
tite, quieted nerves, better spirits, and 
sound sleep follow. With such advan- 
tages in sight, it is strange that more 
of an effort is not made to bring about 
these results by overcoming bad habits. 
In most instances the faults come 
either from improper instruction, or 
Insufficient vanity which will not permit 
Training or heed criticism. If her horse 
has been docile, and refrained from any 
attempt to throw her, a woman is some- 
times so impressed with her skill that 
after a few lessons she no longer regards 
the advice of her instructor, and thinks 
she is beyond the necessity of heed- 
ing his admonitions. Having acquired 
so little knowledge, she will soon have 
numerous objectionable peculiarities in 
form, resulting from her imperfect con- 
ception of horsemanship. 



34 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

Occasionally, too, a woman considers 
herself " a born rider, with a natural 
seat," and the result of this belief is a 
combination of pitiful mistakes, when, 
had her taste for the sport been proper- 
ly trained and cultivated, instead of be- 
ing allowed to run wild, she would prob- 
ably have become a rider. There might 
yet remain hope of her acquiring a seat 
could she be convinced that there really 
is some knowledge on the subject that 
she has not yet mastered. 

In reference to those who have been 
taught by incompetent masters, a great 
deal is to be said, both to enable them 
to adopt the right way, and to prevent 
those who are desirous of learning from 
falling into their mistakes. 

Unfortunately it is almost impossible 
for a woman to mount without assist- 
ance, unless she be very tall and 
her horse small. In this case she 



BEGINNING TO RIDE 35 

can reach the stirrup with her foot, and 
pull herself up by the saddle. Sometimes 
the stirrup can be let down and used to 
mount with, then drawn up when seat- 
ed in the saddle. But this can only be 
done when the stirrup leather buckles 
over the off flap, which is not usual. 
Another method is to lead the horse to 
a fence or wall, climb that, and jump onto 
his back ; but all these methods require 
a very quiet horse, and even then are 
not always practicable. 

It is advisable to learn to mount from 
the ground as well as from a block. 
This is done by placing the right hand 
containing whip and reins on the upper 
pommel, the left foot, with the knee 
bent, in the clasped hands of the attend- 
ant, the left hand on his shoulder, and, 
at a signal, springing from the right 
foot and straightening the left leg. 

Nine out of ten women, after mount- 



36 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

ing, first carefully adjust the habit, and 
have the stirrup or girths tightened be- 
fore putting the knee over the pommel, 
while some even button their gloves be- 
fore ; and, as a secondary consideration, 
when everything else has been seen to, 
they take up the reins, which have been 
loose on the horse's neck. He might 
easily wrench himself from the groom 
at his head, and without her hold on 
the pommel she would fall heavily to 
the ground; or if she were seated, but 
without reins, the horse might bolt into 
a tree, a wall, or another horse. She 
would probably grasp the first rein at 
hand, perhaps the curb, and then the 
horse might rear dangerously, and if 
she did not relax her hold on his mouth 
at once would be likely to fall backwards 
with her — the worst thing that can hap- 
pen to a woman on a horse. All this 
may be avoided by taking the reins be- 



BEGINNING TO RIDE 37 

fore mounting, and upon touching the 
saddle, instantly putting the right knee 
over the pommel. The reins should 
then be transferred to the left hand, 
with the snaffle on the outside, and 
the curb inside, but loose. It will then 
be the proper time to arrange the skirt 
and the stirrup. 

To dismount she must transfer the 

reins to her right hand, take her left 

foot from the stirrup, and lift 

Dismounting , . , , 

her right knee over the upper 
pommel, making sure that her skirt is 
not caught on any part of the saddle. 
She must then take a firm hold of the 
pommel with the hand containing the 
reins and the whip, the latter held so 
that it will not touch the horse. If there 
is some one to assist her she may reach 
out her left arm, and by this she can 
be steadied as she dismounts. In jump- 
ing down she should keep hold of the 



38 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

pommel and turn slightly, so that as she 
lands she is facing the horse, ready to 
notice and guard against signs of kick- 
ing or bolting. Until she is fairly on 
the ground she must not let go of the 
reins or the pommel, for should the 
horse start she might be dragged with 
her head down, if her skirt or her foot 
caught, and without the reins she could 
not stop him. 

It is well to discard the stirrup for 

some time during each ride, first at the 

canter, then at the trot, to make 

stirrup , . , • 

sure that too much weight is not 
rested on this support, and that the rise 
is from the right knee. If too much de- 
pendence is placed on the stirrup the 
seat is sure to be too far to the left, 
unless the leather is too short, when 
the body will be as much too far to the 
right, instead of directly on top of the 
horse. 



BEGINNING TO RIDE 39 

If these directions are observed, a 
very firm seat will be the result, which 
gives a confidence that enables one to 
be thoroughly flexible above the waist 
without fear of going off, and dispels 
a dread that often accounts for a stiff 
or crouching position. A test as to 
whether one is sitting sufficiently close 
in the canter is to put a handkerchief 
on the saddle, and note if the seat is 
firm enough to keep it there. 



IV 

IN THE SADDLE 



THE first impulse of a novice is to 
grasp the horse with her left heel, 
while the leg is bent back from the knee 




INCORRECT LEFT LEG AND HEEL 

■i 



44 



HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



SO that it almost reaches his flank. In- 
stead of this, the leg from 
the knee, which should not 

be more than half an inch below the 



Below the Waist 




CORRECT LEFT LEG AND HEEL 

pommel, must hang naturally in a per- 
pendicular line, and the foot parallel 
with the horse, the heel being held 
away from his side and slightly de- 



IN THE SADDLE 45 

pressed, the ball of the foot resting on 
the stirrup. This alters the grip entirely, 
and gives the greatest possible purchase, 
with the knee firmly in the angle be- 
tween the pommel and the saddle flap, 
the thigh close to the saddle above, and 
the inside of the calf below, where one 
should be able to hold a piece of paper 
without having it fall out while trotting. 
The left foot will, of necessity, remain 
quiet — a most desirable point often neg- 
lected. 

Now for the right leg. The first di- 
rection usually given is to grasp the pom- 
mel with it. That is all very well, but 
it leads to a grievous error. In the en- 
deavor to obey the order, the right knee 
is pressed hard to the left — against the 
pommel, it is true, but in such a man- 
ner that there is considerable space be- 
tween the leg and the saddle, extending 
from the knee half-way up the thigh. 
4 



46 



HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



Thus the rider rises, owing to her grip 
being too high, so that a person on the 
right can often see the pommel beneath 
her. 




INCORRECT RIGHT THIGH AND KNEE 



The first thing to do is to sit well 
back on the saddle, with the shoulders 
square to the front, and press down 
from the hip to the knee until as close, 
to the saddle as possible. Then, when 
sure that the knee is down, taking care 
that it does not leave the saddle in the 
slightest degree, grasp the pommel. It 



IN THE SADDLE 47 

is from this knee that one must rise, 
and the most essential point is to have 
it absolutely firm, with a secure hold 
on as extended a surface as possible. 
From the knee the leg hangs straight, 
kept close to the horse, with the toe 




CORRECT RIGHT THIGH AND KNEE 

depressed just enough to avoid break- 
ing the line of the skirt. It is seldom 
realized that the right leg below the 
knee should be held as firmly against 
the horse as the left, but such is the 
case. 



48 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

The body should be held erect at all 
times, the back straight while rising, in- 
stead of appearing to col- 
Above the Waist 

lapse with each movement, 

or rising from right to left with a churn- 
ning motion instead of straight up and 
down; shoulders should be level — the 
right one is inclined to be higher than 
the left, as well as farther forward — well 
back and equidistant from the horse's 
ears, chest expanded, and chin held near 
the neck, as nothing is more unsight- 
ly than a protruding chin. The arms 
should fall naturally at the sides, bend- 
ing inward from the elbow, but on no ac- 
count to such an extent as to cause the 
elbows to leave the sides or form acute 
angles. All stiffness should be avoided. 
Some difficulty may be experienced at 
first, though, in attempting to relax the 
muscles above the waist while keeping 
the lower ones firm. A little practice 



IN THE SADDLE 49 

will accomplish this, and, as a stiff car- 
riage is most frequently the result of 
self-consciousness, it will be desirable to 
practise where there are no spectators. 
As the woman becomes more accustomed 
to riding she will lose some of her rigidi- 
ty; but she must not go to the other 
extreme and be limp or careless in her 
way of holding herself. A woman's body 
should be at right angles to her horse's 
back, neither inclining backwards nor 
giving evidence of a tendency to stoop. 
Her anxiety to comply with these di- 
rections may render her conscious and 
awkward for a while; but if she will 
persevere, bearing them all in mina, 
they will become as second nature, and 
she will follow them naturally and grace- 
fully. 

The hands should be held about two 

thirds of the way back be- 
Hands and Wrists 

tween the right knee and 



so 



HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



hip, and as low as possible. They should 
be perfectly steady, and in rising never 
communicate the motion of the body to 
the horse's mouth. If the right knee is 




CORRECT KNUCKLES, SIDE VIEW 



used to rise from, the seat will not need 
to be steadied by the reins. In the canter, 
however, the hands, as well as the body 
above the waist, should sway slightly 
with the horse's stride, but not more 



IN THE SADDLE 



51 



than is necessary; for that, and ris- 
ing too high in the trot, give an appear- 
ance of exertion not compatible with 
grace. 

The wrists should be bent so that the 




INCORRECT POSITION OF HANDS 

knuckles point straight ahead with the 
thumbs up, thus giving the horse's 
mouth play from the wrist, instead of, 
as is often the case, from the shoulder, 
^ the former admitting of much greater 



52 



HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



delicacy of handling, and the give-and- 
take movement being not so easily ob- 
served. Most teachers instruct a pupil 
to keep her finger-nails down, but this 



h4\\W 




HANDS IN GOOD FORM, FRONT VIEW 

also necessitates all movement coming 
from the shoulder, or else sticking out 
the elbows. 

Many hold their reins in the left 
hand, allowing the right to hang at 



IN THE SADDLE 53 

the side. This does not look well, and 
in case of an emergency, such as 
stumbling, the hand being so far 
from the reins precludes the possibil- 
ity of rendering the quick assistance 
required. The reins should be held 
in the left hand, but the right should 
be on them, lightly feeling the horse's 
mouth, thereby anticipating his move- 
ments. 

The left snaffle- rein should go out- 
side of the little finger, the left curb 
between the little and third fingers, the 
right curb between the third and mid- 
dle fingers, and the right snaffle be- 
tween the middle and first fingers. 
They must all be brought through the 
hand, over the second joint of the first 
finger, where they must lie flat and in 
order, held there by the thumb. The 
third finger of the right hand should 
rest on the right snaffle, leaving the 



54 



HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 




SNAFFLE OUTSIDE, CURB INSIDE, FRONT VIEW 



first and second free to use the curb if 
required, thus giving equal bearing on 
all four reins. 

If the use of the curb alone is wanted, 
the third finger of the right should re- 
lease the right snaffle, the first and 
second retaining their hold on the 



IN THE SADDLE 



55 



RIGHT SNAFfLE 
LEFT SNAFFLE ^:^ 
RIGHT CURB 
LEFT CURB 




SNAFFLE OUTSIDE, CURB INSIDE, SIDE VIEW 



curb, and the desired result will be pro- 
duced. 

If only the snaffle is desired, it may 
be brought to bear more strongly by 
keeping hold of the right rein with 
the third finger of the right hand, and 
reaching over on the left snaffle with 
the first finger. 

When this method is pursued there 
is no necessity for shifting the reins or 
hauling at them, and constantly chang- 
ing their position and length. When a 
rein has slipped through the fingers of 



56 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

the left hand, instead of pushing it 
back from in front it should be pulled 
to the proper length from back of the 
left hand. 

It is quite correct, though inconven- 
ient, to hold the reins in both hands ; 
but the hands should be held close 
together, with the thumbs up, and al- 
ways on the reins to prevent slipping. 
The little fingers then separate the 
reins, the left snaffle being outside of 
the left little finger, the left curb 
between the little and third fingers, 
with the reins drawn over the first 
finger; the right snaffle outside of the 
right little finger, the right curb be- 
tween the little and third fingers, and 
these also drawn over the first finger, 
in both instances held by the thumbs. 
In this way the right reins may quickly 
be placed in the left hand by inserting 
the middle finger of the left hand be- 




REINS IN TWO HANDS, SNAFFLE OUTSIDE, CURB INSIDE 



IN THE SADDLE 



57 



tween them without displacing the 
others. Sometimes the ends of the 
left reins are passed over the first fin- 
ger of the right hand as well as of the 
left one, and carried on past the little 




POSITION OF REINS AND HANDS IN JUMPING, CURB OUTSIDE, 
SNAFFLE INSIDE 

finger, the same being done to the right 
reins, thus giving additional purchase 
should the horse pull. 

It is well to know several ways of 



58 



HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



holding the reins, and to practise them 
all. For instance, the positions of the 
snaffle and curb may be reversed ; in- 
deed, many expert riders always hold 
their reins with the curb outside and 



RIGHT SNAfFLE 
UE.FT SNAFFLt 



RIGHT CURB 
LETT CURB 




REINS IN TWO HANDS, CURB OUTSIDE, SNAFFLE INSIDE, 
SIDE VIEW 



the snaffle inside, especially in jumping, 
where the curb is not used, and there- 
fore requires a less prominent place in 
the hand. 



IN THE SADDLE 59 

Another position of the reins is to 
have the middle finger of the left 
hand separate the snaffle and the little 
finger the curb, both right reins be- 
ing above the left ones. However, un- 
less a horse is bridle-wise this plan is 
not a convenient one, because the right 
and left reins alternate. A horse so 
trained may be guided by a turn of 
the wrist. To turn him to the left the 
hand should be moved in that direc- 
tion, pressing the right reins against 
his neck, and to go to the right the 
hand should be carried to that side, the 
thumb turned downward, thus press- 
ing the left reins against the horse's 
neck. 
5 



V 

EMERGENCIES 



A LTHOUGH she may ride in good 
-^^^ form, and, when her horse goes 
quietly, feel at home in the saddle, no 
woman can be considered proficient 
until she is prepared for any emer- 
gency, and knows how to meet it. 

Many horses show restlessness while 
being mounted, some carrying it to 
Eagerness to such an extent as to back 
^*^'"* and rear or swerve most un- 
pleasantly. The groom at his head 
should hold him lightly but firmly by 
the snaffle, or, better still, the cheeks of 
the bridle; not lugging or jerking at 
him, but endeavoring to soothe him. 
If the horse swerves from her, he should 
be made to stand against a wall. The 



64 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

woman must get settled in the saddle 
as expeditiously as she can, not taking 
any unnecessary time in the arrange- 
ment of her skirt, which might aug- 
ment the animal's uneasiness. Once 
mounted she must walk the horse 
quietly for a few minutes, using the 
snaffle only, as his restlessness may 
have come from expecting the spur on 
starting, as is customary with the horses 
of those who care for display rather than 
good manners. Before long she should 
dismount, and, at a different place, re- 
peat the lesson without fighting him, 
even should he fail to show much prog- 
ress at first. If he rears, the attend- 
ant should let go of his head until he 
comes down; then, before starting, try 
to make him stand a few moments. 
Each time the rider mounts she should 
increase the period of his standing, do- 
ing it firmly while talking to him, 




^^«^)t)%Jl^tj)«pijl^ 



HANDS AND SEAT IN REARING 



EMERGENCIES 65 

but without force or harshness, and 
presently he will obey as a matter of 
course and without an idea of resist- 
ance. 

The most common fault of a horse is 
shying, and though no one who has a 

secure seat should be inconveni- 
Shyers 11,. 

enced thereby, its treatment needs 

some discrimination. Shying often arises 

from defective vision. If, however, the 

animal's eyes are in good condition, it 

may come from timidity, but in either 

case the horse should be soothed and 

coaxed up to the object of his aversion 

and shown its harmlessness. If it is 

merely a trick, then playing with his 

mouth and speaking in a warning tone 

when approaching anything likely to 

attract his notice will usually make him 

go straight. As a rule the whip should 

not be used, because the horse may 

learn to associate a blow with the ob- 



66 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

ject he has shied at, and the next time 

he sees it is likely to bolt in order to 

avoid the impending chastisement — 

thus going from bad to worse. 

For the same reason, I object to a 

horse being punished for stumbling. 

Disagreeable as it is, the fault 
Stumblers , . . 

usually comes from defective 

muscular action or conformation, or 

from not being kept collected by his 

rider. It is not fair to punish the horse 

for these causes. The thing to do is 

to sit well back and give the reins a 

sharp pull to bring his head up, and 

then keep him going up to the bit, for 

if the rider is careless the horse will 

follow her example. 

A rearing horse is not fit for a 

woman to ride. If she finds herself on 

one which attempts it, she must 
Rearers , , . i r i , 

throw her weight forward and a 

little to the right, because she can lean 



EMERGENCIES 67 

farther forward on this than on the left 
side, to help the horse preserve his bal- 
ance, as well as to prevent being struck 
by his head. If necessary she can clutch 
his mane, but on no account must she 
touch his mouth in the slightest de- 
gree. As he comes down, a vigorous 
kick with the heel, a shake of the 
snaffle, and a harsh exclamation may 
send him along. I cannot advocate a 
woman's striking him, for if he has a 
temper, it may arouse it to such an ex- 
tent that he will throw himself back. 

Those with a strong seat have no 
reason to fear a horse that plunges, if 

it does not develop into rear- 
Plungers 

ing or bucking. They should 

sit close and urge the horse to a faster 

pace, as it stands to reason that if he 

is kept going briskly he cannot so 

easily begin his antics as he could 

at a slower gait. 



68 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

A woman is seldom if ever required 
to ride a horse which bucks, and if he 

is known to do it viciously she 
Buckers 

had better not try any experi- 
ments with him, as he will surely ex- 
haust her in a fight. By bucking I do 
not mean the mild form of that vice 
which is usually found under that 
name in the East. Here an animal 
that plunges persistently and comes 
down hard is said to buck; while if his 
head is lowered, that settles the ques- 
tion in the minds of those ignorant of 
what a real bucking horse is capable. 
In encountering the Eastern variety of 
this species, the woman must elevate 
the horse's head, sit well back, and 
firmly too, for even the mild form of 
bucking is not easy to sustain undis- 
turbed. 

The genuine article, the real West- 
ern bucker, is quite another matter. 



EMERGENCIES 69 

Newspapers have published instances of 
women who have managed to stay on 
one through all his various and blood- 
stirring antics ; but such cases are in 
fact unknown outside of Buffalo Bill's 
Wild West Show, and there the animals 
have been taught to perform to order. 
When the bronco bucks, he gives no 
preliminary warning by harmless plung- 
ing; he simply throws his head down 
between his knees, humps his back like 
a cat, and proceeds to business. He 
jumps into the air, coming down to one 
side of where he started, with all four 
feet bunched and legs stiffened, only to 
bound into space again. An occasional 
squeal adds to the general hilarity of 
the scene, and the alacrity with which 
that meek-looking mustang can land 
and go into the air again would aston- 
ish one not accustomed to the sight. 
In riding a puller, his head must be 



70 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

kept in a correct position, neither low 
nor high, by hghtly feehng his 

Pullers , ,, , . . 

mouth until he gives to the 

motion. Should he have his head up 

and nose out, elevating the hands and 

drawing the snaffle across the bars 

sometimes causes the bit to bear in 

such a manner that the horse will drop 

his nose, and at that moment an effort 

must be made to keep it there. This 

method is exceptional, however, and 

should be resorted to only when other 

means fail, and the horse's head is so 

high, with the nose protruding, that the 

bit affords no control. Ordinarily, the 

hands should be low, one on each side 

of the withers, and quietly feeling the 

snaffle until he obeys its signal. 

If he pulls with his head down, almost 

between his knees, the curb must not be 

touched, but the snaffle should be felt 

and the hands held higher than usual 



EMERGENCIES J 1 

and a little farther forward, playing with 
his mouth. This may make him raise 
his head ; but if not, then several deter- 
mined pulls, yielding the hand between 
them, given without temper and with a 
few soothing words, may stop him. If 
he has the bit between his teeth, quick 
give-and-take movements will proba- 
bly surprise him into releasing it. It 
is useless for a woman to try to sub- 
due him by force. 

It is well to have a horse's teeth ex- 
amined for pulling, as one which has 
become displaced or sensitive causes 
excessive pain, and often results in this 
habit. When a horse shows a tendency 
to kick, by putting his ears back or a 
peculiar wriggle of the body, his head 
must instantly be pulled up and kept 
there, for in that position he will not 
attempt it. 

A runaway nearly always frightens 



72 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

a woman so that she loses her head. 
Composure will best enable her 

Runaways 

to escape without accident. As 
the horse starts she must keep her heel 
well away from his side and her hands 
down, and instantly begin sawing his 
mouth with the reins; then a succession 
of sharp jerks and pulls should be re- 
sorted to — never a dead pull — and pos- 
sibly he may be brought down. 

Once well in his stride, no woman 
can stop a horse. She must then be 
governed by circumstances, and, if in a 
crowd or park, try to keep him clear of 
all objects, and not exhaust herself and 
excite the horse by screaming. Some 
one will try to catch him ; and as a ter- 
rific jerk will be the result, she must 
brace herself for it. If the horse runs 
where there is open country, and she 
is sure his running is prompted by 
vice, not fright, she should urge him 



EMERGENCIES 



73 



on when he tires and keep him going 
up-hill or over heavy ground if possi- 
ble, using the whip freely, and not per- 
mit him to stop until he is completely 
done. 

There are some good riders who ad- 
vise pulling a horse into a fence to stop 
him, but there is always a chance of his 
attempting to jump it, while, as the rider 
tries to prevent this, the horse may be 
thrown out of his balance or stride and 
fall over the fence. If he is driven at a 
high wall or other insurmountable ob- 
struction the horse will stop so sudden- 
ly that the rider is likely to be precipi- 
tated over the animal's head, even if 
she have a good seat. Again, the horse 
may miscalculate the distance and run 
into the object, perhaps seriously hurt- 
ing himself and his rider. If this method 
is to be employed, a grassy or sandy em- 
bankment should be chosen, if possible, 



74 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

as there will then be fewer chances of 
injury. 

Others believe in throwing the horse, 
which may be done by letting him have 
his head for a few strides, then suddenly 
giving a violent tug at the reins. If he 
can thus be made to cross his legs, he 
will go down. Another way is for a 
woman to put all her strength into 
pulling one rein, and if she can use 
enough force he may be twisted so 
that he will lose his balance and fall. 
Then the danger is that a woman will 
not get clear of him before he regains 
his footing and starts off, in which case 
she might better have remained on his 
back than risk being dragged at his 
heels. If some one else's horse is run- 
ning instead of the one she is on, and 
it is coming towards her, a woman 
should instantly, but quietly, wheel her 
horse, and keep him as much to one 



EMERGENCIES 75 

side of the road as possible ; and if she 
is sure of her control over him, a brisk 
canter will be the safest gait. Thus, if 
the runaway strikes her horse, it will 
not be with the same force as it would 
had they met from opposite directions. 
Besides, it is almost impossible to tell 
which way a frightened horse may turn, 
and in endeavoring to avoid him, if they 
are facing, a collision may result. 

If a horse falls, from crossing his legs 
for instance, to keep hold of the reins 
must be the first thought, and then to 
get clear of him as quickly as possible 
and out of his way if he seems likely to 
roll. If the rider retains her hold on 
the reins, he cannot kick her, as his 
head will be towards her; nor can he 
get away, leaving her to walk home. 

Punishment of a horse should never 
be begun without the certainty that 
what has given displeasure is really his 



76 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

fault, wilfully committed. Even then 
a battle should always be 

Punishment . , , .. ., , . . . 

avoided, if possible, for it is 
better to spend a half-hour, or even 
much more, gently but firmly urging a 
horse to obedience than to fight him. 
It sometimes drives him to such a 
state of excitement and temper that 
the effects of it will be perceptible for 
days, sometimes weeks, in a nervous, 
highly strung animal, and he will, per- 
haps, prepare for a combat whenever the 
same circumstances again arise. That 
which comes from misconception on 
the part of the horse is often treated 
as though it were vice, and such unjust 
chastisement, without accomplishing its 
object, bewilders and frightens the un- 
fortunate victim. Therefore one should 
know positively that it is obstinacy or 
vice, not dulness or timidity, which has 
made the horse apparently resist his 



EMERGENCIES 77 

rider's authority. A horse with much 
temper may only be made worse by the 
punishment he undoubtedly deserves; 
therefore, forbearance and ingenuity 
should be exercised to bring him into 
submission. Discipline must be admin- 
istered at the time of insubordination, 
or it loses its meaning to the horse. It 
is folly to postpone punishing him, for 
then he fails to connect it with the act 
of resistance which has provoked it. 

Another great mistake, and one to 
be strongly censured, is that of vent- 
ing one's impatience or temper on the 
poor brute, which may be doing its best 
to understand the clumsy and imperfect 
commands of a cruel taskmaster. 

Having calmly decided that the horse 
requires punishment, it should be given 
in a firm and temperate manner, no more 
severity being employed than is neces- 
sary. However, the whip should fall 



78 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

with force and decision, or it is worse 
than useless; and if a moderate amount 
of whipping or spurring does not result 
in victory, it must be increased, as, once 
begun, the fight must end in the con- 
quest of the animal, or the woman on 
his back will thenceforth be unable to 
control him. It must be done dispas- 
sionately and continuously, and no time 
allowed him to become more obstinate 
by a cessation of hostilities when he 
might be about to give in. At the first 
sign of yielding, he should be encour- 
aged, and the punishment cease, until 
he has had an opportunity to do what 
is desired of him. 

While using the whip, the right hand 
should never be on the reins, as that ne- 
cessitates jerking the horse's mouth and 
hitting from the wrist, a weak and inef- 
fectual method. The blow should fall 
well back of the saddle and with the 



EMERGENCIES 79 

force given by the full swing of the arm. 
A woman usually expends her energy 
in hitting the saddle-flap, making some 
noise, to be sure, but not producing the 
desired effect. 

If these suggestions are followed, 
there will be comparatively little trou- 
ble in learning to properly handle a horse 
that he may be kept up to the mark. 
Until having laid a solid foundation for 
one's self, it is useless to hope to obtain 
the best results from the horse, which 
will surely appreciate and take advan- 
tage of any incompetency on the part of 
the rider. Even if not aspiring to more 
than ordinary park riding, attention to 
these hints will add so materially to the 
comfort and safety of both horse and 
woman that it will be a subject of won- 
der to the latter how she could have 
found the wrong way pleasant enough 
to admit of any hesitation in giving 
the correct one at least a fair trial. 



VI 

CHOOSING A MOUNT 



MUCH of a woman's comfort will 
depend on the horse she chooses. 
She is too often inclined to procure a 
showy one, which pleases the eye, even 
though she cannot control his antics, 
rather than a trustworthy and less con- 
spicuous mount. 

In choosing a horse, she should not 
rely exclusively on her own judgment. 
An Few women are aware of the ar- 
Adviser tifices resorted to by dishonest 
dealers to render presentable some ani- 
mal which in its natural condition she 
would at once reject ; therefore she 
should enlist the services of some man 
in whose knowledge of horse-flesh she 
has reason to place confidence, and of 



84 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

whose disinterestedness she is certain. 
When a horse is found which appears 
to fulfil her requirements, she should 
insist upon a trial of hina herself; for, 
although he may go well and comfort- 
ably with her friend, a woman might 
not possess the qualities which had as- 
sured success in the former trial by the 
man. The horse would recognize the 
difference, take advantage of her inex- 
perience or lack of skill, and act as he 
would not think of doing under an ex- 
pert. Furthermore, gaits which would 
suit a man are often too hard for a 
woman, and a horse which he might 
think merely went well up to the bit 
would to her weaker arms seem a puller. 
After being approved of by her friend, 
the woman should try the animal her- 
self, outside, alone and in company. If 
he proves satisfactory, she should en- 
deavor to have him in her stable for 



CHOOSING A MOUNT 85 

a few days, and during that time to 
have him examined by a veterinary 
surgeon, obtaining his certificate of the 
horse's soundness. An animal abso- 
lutely sound and without blemish is a 
rare sight ; but there are many defects 
which do not lessen the horse's prac- 
tical value, although their presence 
lower his price, and may enable her to 
secure something desirable which would 
otherwise have been beyond her means. 
Such a horse should be accepted only 
after a thorough examination by the 
veterinary, and upon his advice. It is 
well to avoid purchasing a horse from a 
friend, unless one is perfectly familiar 
with the animal, as such transactions fre- 
quently lead to strained relations, each 
thinking bitterly of the other. Some, 
having pronounced their horse sound, 
would take offence should a veterinary 
be called ; while if he were not con- 



86 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

suited the horse might go wrong, and 
the purchaser would perhaps think the 
former owner had disposed of him with 
that expectation, or at least knowing 
the probability of it, yet their social 
relations would prevent accusation or 
explanation. Furthermore, a difference 
of opinion as to the price is awkward, 
and altogether it requires more tact, 
discretion, and liberality than most 
people possess to make a satisfactory 
horse-trade with a friend. 

Having decided as to whose advice 
she will take, a woman should not be 
influenced by the comments and criti- 
cisms of others. If she waits until all 
her friends approve of her choice she 
will never buy a horse. However, by 
listening to what the best informed of 
them say, she may gain much instruc- 
tion and knowledge. As a woman may 
wish to know what points are desirable 



CHOOSING A MOUNT 87 

in a horse, and what to look for, a gen- 
eral idea of this may be welcome. It is 
only by comparison that she will learn 
to distinguish whether certain parts are 
long or short, normal or excessive, there- 
fore she should critically notice horses at 
every opportunity, and observe in what 
they differ from one another. 

If a woman could have a Park hack 
made to order, the following points 

would be the most prominent: 
Park Hack ^ 

A horse should always be up to 

more weight than he will have to carry; 
and as, in the Park, appearances are of 
importance, a woman should buy a horse 
on which she will look well. Much will 
depend upon her mount being of an ap- 
propriate size and build. A woman of 
medium size will look her best on a horse 
of about 15.2. No exact height can be 
fixed upon, as the present system of 
measurement is so incomplete. 



65 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

A horse standing 15.2 at the withers, 

where it is always measured, may be 

much higher there than any- 
Measurement 

where else, his quarters being 

disproportionately low. On the other 
hand, the withers might be low and the 
rump high, giving the strength, power, 
and stride to a horse of 15 hands which 
might be expected in one of several 
inches higher. In races and shows it 
enables low-withered horses to run and 
compete against those which, although 
high at the withers, have not the pos- 
terior conformation to justify their 
being in the same class. The more 
common-sense and accurate method of 
measurement, if it would only be gen- 
erally adopted, is to take the height 
at the withers and also at the rump, 
average it, and call that the size of the 
horse. For instance, a horse 15.3 at the 
withers and 15.2 at the rump should 



CHOOSING A MOUNT 89 

be registered as measuring 15.2^. The 
fashionably bred trotting horse often 
measures higher at the rump than at 
the withers, while the properly propor- 
tioned saddle horse should measure as 
high, or highest, at the withers. 

In a saddle horse there are other 
points than height to be considered. 
If the woman is stout, the horse should 
be of substantial build, very compact, 
and like a cob. If she is slight, she will 
look best on a horse of light build and 
possessed of quality. 

In my opinion, three quarters, or a 
trifle more, thoroughbred blood makes 
the pleasantest mount for a woman. 
Five to seven is a good age at which 
to buy a horse, as he will then have 
been through the early ailments of 
young horses and be just entering his 
prime. 

As to his points, his head should 
7 



90 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

be small and clear-cut, with delicate- 
ly pointed ears, pronninent 
Conformation i r n 

eyes, a fine muzzle, full nos- 
trils, clean-cut angle at the throttle, 
and the head carried somewhat less 
than vertical to the ground ; the crest 
curved, and the neck thin and supple, 
but muscular and well set on to broad 
shoulders. These should be long and 
oblique, thus reducing the concussion 
and making the horse easier to ride as 
well as safer, because his forelegs are 
proportionately advanced, giving less 
weight in front of them to cause a fall 
should he trip. The true arms (com- 
monly called lower bones of the shoul- 
ders), extend from the points of the 
shoulders to the elbows, and should be 
short, or the forelegs will be placed too 
far back. The forearms, extending from 
the elbows to the knees, should be large 
and muscular and rather long. Broad, 



CHOOSING A MOUNT QI 

flat knees are indicative of strength, 
and they should have considerably more 
width than the forearms or the shanks. 

Below the knees and to the fetlocks 
the legs should be rather short, flat, 
deep, and fine, no swelling to prevent 
one from feeling distinctly, especially 
near the fetlocks, the tendons and liga- 
ments quite separate from the shanks 
or cannons and the splint-bones. The 
fetlock-joints much developed give evi- 
dence of overwork, therefore any un- 
due prominence is not desirable. Long, 
slanting pasterns give elasticity to a 
horse's gait and prevent disagreeable 
concussion ; but if the length is exces- 
sive, there will be too much strain on 
the back tendons. The fetlocks reach 
to the coronet, below which are the feet, 
which must be of good shape and abso- 
lutely sound. 

The thorax must be either broad or 



92 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

deep and full, so that the lungs and 
heart may have plenty of room to ex- 
pand. It should be well supplied with 
muscle where the forelegs are joined to 
it, and these should be straight, with the 
feet pointing straight ahead. The toe 
should be under the point of the shoul- 
der. High withers are preferred to low 
ones, but if they are too high they place 
a side-saddle at an uncomfortable angle, 
which needs an objectionable amount 
of padding at the back to rectify the 
fault. The back should not sink per- 
ceptibly, but it may be somewhat long- 
er in a w^oman's horse than in a man's, 
as her saddle occupies so much more 
space ; but the ribs should be long in 
front and short back of the girth, run- 
ning well up to the hips. This con- 
formation will prevent the saddle from 
working forward ; a tendency to slip back 
may be checked by using a breast-plate. 



CHOOSING A MOUNT 93 

A horse should be broad across the 
loins; if these are strong, and the horse 
well ribbed up, there will be no unsight- 
ly sinking of the flanks even in front of 
hips that are broad, as they should be. 
The thighs extend from the lower part 
of the haunches or hips to the stifle- 
joints, and these and the haunches are 
covered with powerful muscles, which, 
when well developed, form strong quar- 
ters. A well-placed tail, carried at a 
correct angle, adds greatly to a horse's 
appearance. From the stifles to the 
hocks are found the lower thighs, and 
these should be long and strong. The 
hocks should be prominent, clearly de- 
fined, and free from all puffiness or swell- 
ing. From the hocks to the fetlocks 
the leg should descend perpendicularly, 
neither bent under him nor back of him. 
The same rule applies to these fetlocks 
as to the fore ones ; and the same may 



94 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

be said of the feet, but the latter are 
too important to dismiss without fur- 
ther comment. 

The hoofs when on the ground should 
be at an angle of about forty-five degrees 
from the toe to the coronet. Any un- 
evenness or protrusions on the wall of 
the hoofs, or a sinking-in at the quar- 
ters, should be viewed with suspicion. 
Breadth is desirable at the heels, and 
the bars should not be cut away. The 
frog should be nearly on a level with 
the shoes, and the soles should be 
slightly concave. 

If a hunter is to be chosen, looks are 

not of so much importance, although I 

like him to be almost if not quite 
Hunter 

thoroughbred. However, if the 

animal can gallop and jump, has good 
staying qualities and a strong constitu- 
tion, a kind disposition and a light 
mouth, good manners and plenty of 



CHOOSING A MOUNT 95 

power, he should not be discarded be- 
cause he lacks beauty. A large head, 
ewe neck, ragged hips, rat -tail, poor 
coat, and other such ungainly points, 
are not bad enough to condemn him if 
he has the other qualities I have men- 
tioned ; and often a peculiarly shaped 
animal will out -jump a horse of the 
most correct conformation. 

After carefully looking over the horse, 
a woman should have some one trot and 
Gait and canter him, to see that his action 
Manners -^ ^^j^^^ ^j^^ wants. A Park hack 

should have free, easy gaits, with good 
knee and hock action, and travel evenly 
and without brushing, cutting, interfer- 
ing, dishing, or showing any such irreg- 
ularities of gait. She should watch him 
from in front, from behind, and at the 
sides; and, after his trial by a man, the 
woman should ride him, and find out 
what his faults are under the saddle. 



96 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

His manners should be perfect : no sign 
of bolting, or rearing, or other vices ; 
nor should he be a star-gazer, nor lug 
on the bit, as a good mouth is very es- 
sential to her comforto 

However, if he is green — that is, un- 
accustomed to his surroundings and to 
being ridden — he should not be rejected 
without a fair trial, to ascertain whether 
his cramped gait, shying, and other such 
failings are the result of inexperience un- 
der the saddle, or are established traits. 
The most desirable points are a light 
but not over-sensitive mouth, even gait, 
with swinging (not jerky or shuffling) 
action, a kind disposition — with w^hich 
quality considerable friskiness need not 
condemn him — good manners, and free- 
dom from tricks and vices. He should 
be practically sound and of correct con- 
formation — a more valuable attribute 
for safety and ease than high action. 



VII 

DRESS 



SIMPLICITY is the rule for the habit. 
It should be of Thibet cloth— black, 
dark brown, or blue for winter, tan or a 
medium shade of gray for summer. All 
conspicuous colors and materials are to 
be avoided. It is well to have the skirt 
made of a heavy-weight cloth, which 
will help to make it set properly with- 
out the assistance of straps ; while the 
bodice may be of a medium weight of 
the same cloth, that it may fit better 
and be less bulky. For very warm 
weather in the country a habit made of 
heavy gingham or white duck is cool 
and comfortable, and will wash. The 
skirt and bodice may be of the same 
material, or a silk or cheviot shirt and 



lOO HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

leather belt may be worn with the skirt. 
A straw sailor-hat completes this con- 
venient innovation, but it should be 
reserved for use out of town. 

The skirt should reach only far 
enough to cover the left foot, and be 
too narrow to admit of any flow- 
ing folds. Fashion and safety both 
demand this. A skittish horse is often 
frightened by a loose skirt flapping at 
his side. 

I should be very glad to see the safe- 
ty skirt, which is worn in the hunting- 
field, adopted in general riding 

Safety Skirt ^ , .^ ,^ 

Its advantages are manifold. 
Although it appears the same, less cloth 
is used, therefore it is cooler; there is 
nothing between the pommel and the 
breeches, thus improving the hold, and 
in case of accident it is impossible to 
be dragged. There are several kinds in 
use, but the less complicated the more 



DRESS lOI 

desirable it is. The simplest is made 
like any other skirt, except that where 
the pommels come there is a large piece 
of the cloth cut out, extending in a cir- 
cle at the top, and then straight down, 
at both sides, so that there is no cloth 
near the pommels or where it could catch 
in case of a fall. This leaves enough to 
extend under both legs when in the sad- 
dle, and looks like an ordinary one. Un- 
der the right knee, where the skirt is 
rounded out, a small strip of cloth but- 
tons from this point on to the piece 
which is under the leg ; this and an 
elastic strap on the foot keep it in 
place ; but neither is strong enough to 
stand any strain, therefore would not 
be dangerous in a fall. 

Another pattern has eyelet holes 
made on each side from where the 
cloth has been taken, and round silk 
elastic laced through them, thus pre- 



I02 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

venting the possibility of disarrange- 
ment. Both of these skirts loop at the 
back, and can be kept from appearing 
unlike others if the wearer will imme- 
diately fasten them on dismounting. 
An ordinary skirt may be made safer 
by having no hem. 

We hear a great deal now of the 

divided skirt, and the advisability of 

women riding astride. The 

Divided Skirt 

theory is good, as having a 
leg each side of the animal gives much 
greater control over his movements. 

For most women, however, it is im- 
practicable, since they cannot sit down 
in the saddle and grip with their knees 
as they should, owing to the fact that 
their thighs are rounded, instead of flat 
like a man's. It might be possible for 
a lean and muscular woman to acquire 
a secure seat, but not for the average 
one. Being short is another drawback 



DRESS 



103 



to a strong seat against which most of 
them would have to contend. This is 
particularly trying, as so much of her 
weight is above the waist, making it dif- 
ficult to ride from balance, which might 
otherwise replace the deficient leverage 
of the short thigh. Again, if on a large 
or broad horse, the constant strain on 
the muscles necessary when astride him 
must be injurious. 

Aside from any physical reasons, the 
position for a woman is, in my opinion, 
most ungraceful and undignified, while 
few of them possess the strength to 
profit by the changed seat in forcing 
the horse up to his bridle or keeping 
him collected ; and I cannot blame 
those who think it open to the charge 
of impropriety. 

The bodice should be single-breasted, 

long over the hips, reachino; al- 
Bodice ^ r » fc, 

most to the saddle in the back, 



I04 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

and cut away in front to show a waist- 
coat, the upper edge of which makes 
a finish between the collar and lapels 
of the waist and the white collar and 

Ascot or four-in-hand. The 
Waistcoat 

waistcoat gives more of an op- 
portunity for the exercise of individual 
taste. The most desirable, I think, has 
a white background, on which is a black, 
brown, blue, or red check. It may be all 
tan or a hunting pink, plain, figured, or 
striped, so long as too many colors are 
not combined; but, as a rule, something 
quiet and simple will be the most de- 
sirable. In summer a pique waistcoat 
is worn, or something similar, that is 
light, cool, and will wash. A black or 
white cravat always looks well, or one 
which, without being glaring, harmo- 
nizes with the waistcoat. 

Sense, health, and comfort all demand 
that the waist shall not be laced to the 



DRESS 105 

painful extent endured by many foolish 

and vain women. They would let 

Corsets . , , t i^i u 

out an inch or two it they could 

realize that the blood is forced from their 
waists to their faces, making them scar- 
let at any exertion, while they have dif- 
ficulty in conversing except in gasps, and 
are compelled to walk their horses at fre- 
quent intervals to catch their breath. 

It is so invigorating to feel the lungs 
expanded by a long, deep breath, and 
the blood, quickened by the motion of 
the horse, coursing unrestrained through 
all the veins, while the muscles of the 
back and abdomen are allowed full 
play, that those who go along panting 
and aching lose half the beneficial ef- 
fects of riding, and more pleasure than 
they can possibly derive from trying 
to make people believe that they have 
small waists. The corsets are of great 
importance and must be of good quali- 
8 



Io6 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

ty and not very stiff, small bones being 
used instead of large ones or steels. 
They must be short in front and over 
the hips, that the movements may not 
be unnecessarily restricted, or the skin 
become raw from rubbing against the 
ends of the bones. A plain corset- 
cover should be worn over them, as the 
linin": of the habit-waist sometimes dis- 
colors the corsets if this precaution is 
not taken. 

Considerable latitude is permitted a 
woman in the choice of what she shall 
Boots, Breeches, wear under her skirt. Boots 
Tights ^j^(^ breeches are considered 

better form than shoes and trousers; but 
there is no reason why the latter should 
not be used, especially if the shoes lace. 
Boots and tights, however, are the most 
comfortable of all. Breeches are made 
of stockinette, re-enforced with chamois 
skin, and reach half-way down the calf, 



DRESS 107 

where they should button close to the 
leg— the buttons being on the left side 
of each leg, that the right may not 
be bruised by the buttons pressing 
against the saddle. Chamois skin is 
sometimes used to make breeches, but 
it is not very satisfactory. At first they 
are soft and pliable, but after being 
worn a few times they become stiff 
and unyielding, and rain will render 
them hard as boards. 

Tan box-cloth gaiters, extending from 
the instep almost to the knee, are some- 
times worn with breeches and shoes. 
They are made exactly like those for 
men, and take the place of boots. 
Boots may be of calf-skin or patent 
leather, with wrinkled or stiff legs, the 
tops reaching a few inches above the 
bottom of the breeches. In warm 
weather tan boots are often worn ; but, 
of whatever variety they may be, they 



Io8 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

should always be large, with broad, thick 
soles and low, square heels. 

Trousers are of the same material as 
the skirt, and are also re-enforced. Elas- 
tic bands passing under the shoes keep 
the trousers down. Tights should be of 
the color of the habit, and fit smoothly 
without being stretched. They come 
in different weights, and either silk, 
cotton, or wool may be worn. They 
should have feet woven on them, thus 
doing away with the necessity for all 
underclothing below the waist. 

When breeches or trousers are worn, 
tights may advantageously be substi- 
tuted for the other usual garments 
worn under such conditions. If tights 
are not worn, whatever replaces them 
should fit snugly and be without starch 
or frills. The stockings should be 
kept up from the waist, as garters chafe 
the knee when it presses the pommel, 



DRESS 109 

and often interfere with the circulation. 
Some women wear union garments, 
which are practically tights extending 
from the neck to the feet, taking the 
place of shirts. However, when a shirt 
is worn it will be most comfortable if 
of a light-weight wool. This absorbs 
the perspiration, and is therefore pleas- 
anter to wear than silk, and more likely 
to protect from a cold. Outside of this 
should be the corset. 

When it is cold a chamois-skin waist 
with long sleeves should be worn under 
the bodice, as this is much better than 
a fur cape, which is often used, and 
which confines the arms. A covert 
coat is the most convenient, but the for- 
mer is more readily obtained, A wool 
shirt, short corsets, plain corset-cover, 
and tights are all the underclothing 
needed for riding. Some women wear 
a linen shirt, with collar and cuffs at- 



no HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

tached, like a man's, except that it is 
narrowed at the waist. With this the 
corset-cover is not needed. 

Separate collars and cuffs are more 
generally used, and the scarf should be 
Collars and pinned to the collar at the 

Cuffs back, as these have a way of 
parting company that is most untidy. 
To make it more certain, a clasp or pin 
such as men use to hold a four-in-hand 
tie in place should fasten the ends of 
the scarf to the shirt-front or corset- 
cover, thus securing it against slipping. 

The cuffs should not be pinned to the 
sleeve, as the lining of the coat will be 
torn, and the pin will catch on the 
habit and stretch and roughen it in 
places. A small elastic band put over 
a button at the wrist of the sleeve, and 
attached to the cuff-button, w^ill answer 
every purpose. 

Gauntlets should be discarded, and 



DRESS III 

gloves worn large enough to admit of 

the muscles of the hand being 
Gloves 

used freely. Dogskin of a red- 
dish shade of tan is the best material 
for gloves. The stitching is such as to 
form slight ridges of the glove itself on 
the back of the hand, the red stitches 
being scarcely perceptible at a little dis- 
tance. It is difficult to find women's 
gloves broad enough for comfort in rid- 
ing, and it is a good plan to buy boys' 
gloves, which give the desired freedom. 
They have only one button, an advan- 
tage over women's, which have two or 
three that are in the way under the 
cuff. 

Should the wrists need more protec- 
tion from the cold, wristlets may be 
worn, as they take up but little room. 
For cold weather, gloves come in a 
softer kid, like chevrette, and have a 
fleecy lining, very warm, but too soft 



112 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

and light to make the gloves clumsy. 
Flowers and jewelry are decidedly out 
of place on horseback, and a handker- 
chief should never be thrust into the 
front of the bodice. It should be put in 
the slit on the off saddle-flap, or in the 
pocket at the left side of the skirt 
where it opens. 

The hair should be firmly coiled or 

braided on the neck, and not worn on 

top of the head. A top hat is 

Hair and Hat 

correct, especially on formal 
occasions, but it should not be allowed 
to slip to the back of the head. How- 
ever, I prefer usually a derby, as being 
more comfortable and looking more 
business-like. It should be kept on by 
an elastic which fastens under the hair. 
Pins through the crown are an uncalled- 
for disfigurement, and a hat may be 
made just as secure without them. In 
fact, they will be of but little use if the 



DRESS 113 

hair is not done high. A large hair- 
pin on each side should pin the hair 
over the elastic ; and if the wind or 
anything else causes the hat to become 
displaced, it will not come off entirely, 
forcing some one to dismount and re- 
store it to the woman, who cannot get 
it alone. Hair-pins should be long and 
bent half-way up each prong, so that 
they will not easily slip out. 

When a veil is worn, it should be of 
black net or gauze, never white or fig- 
ured, and the ends should be neatly 

Veil 

pinned out of sight, instead of being 
allowed to float out behind, like smoke 
from a steam-engine. If a whip is car- 
ried for use, it should be a substantial 
stiff one, held point down, 

Whip or Crop 

not a flimsy thmg that a 

sound blow will break, nor should it be 
made absurd by a bow or tassel being 
tied to it. If for style, then a crop is 



114 



HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



Spur 



the correct thing, with the lash-end held 
up. The handle should be of horn, rath- 
er than silver or gold, and the 
stick quite heavy and some- 
what flexible. Short bamboo 
sticks are in favor just now, 
and are often tipped with 
gold, and have a gold band 
a few inches from the end 
where it is held. 

I do not approve of a spur / 
for women, as it is difficult to 

use it just right, and its 

unintentional applica- 
tion often has disastrous re- 
sults, while should she be 
dragged by the foot, it will 
keep hitting the horse, urg- 
ing him faster and faster. 
In mounting, the spur some- 
times strikes the horse, mak- 
ing him shy just as the rider expects to 




DRESS 



115 




POSITION mm PRLSStD AOAlflST 
THE HOWE. 



A GOOD SPUR 



reach the saddle, and a nasty fall is the 
consequence. Where a man would use 
it advantageously, a woman cannot pro- 
duce the same effect, having it only on 
one side. Moreover, a horse suitable 
for her to ride should not require more 
than her heel and her whip. 

Some horses are very cunning, and 
will shirk their work if they discover 
that there is no spur to urge them, but 
such may be taught that a whip in skil- 
ful hands is quite as effective. In a 
crowd a spur is of value, as it may be 
applied noiselessly, and without danger 



Il6 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

of startling other horses, as a whip will 
do. In leaping, a spur on one side of 
the horse and the whip on the other 
form a combination which will often 
compel him to jump when, from sulki- 
ness or indolence, he has been refus- 
ing. 

It requires some practice, however, 
to use it in the right place and at the 
right moment ; a woman's skirt has an 
unhappy faculty of intercepting the spur 
when it should strike him, and her heel 
of hitting the horse when it should 
leave him alone. For these reasons I 
am in favor of women riding without a 
spur when it is possible, for, although it 
looks well as a finish to a boot, its adop- 
tion by inexpert riders may lead to sad 
results. 

If a spur is to be worn, there are sev- 
eral kinds from which to choose. I pre- 
fer a box-spur with a rowel, such as men 



DRESS 117 



use, but having a guard, which prevents 
it from catching in the habit, and lessens 
the probabiUties of its unintentionally 
punishing a horse. When it is applied 
with force, the rowel comes through the 
guard, which works on a spring, and 
upon releasing the pressure the guard 
again protects the sharp rowel. They 
may be of the kind that fit in a box 
which has been put in the heel of the 
boot, or they may have straps and 
buckle over the instep. 



Vlll 

LEAPING 



X^T'HEN a woman has attained some 
^ ^ degree of proficiency in the sad- 
dle, she will probably desire to perfect 
herself in riding by learning to leap. 
Her equestrian education cannot be 
considered complete without this, but 
she should not attempt it until she 
has learned thoroughly how to ride cor- 
rectly on the road. A secure seat, light 

hands, a cool head, quick per- 
Requirements ... 

ception, judgment, and cour- 
age form a combination which will ena- 
ble her in a short time to acquire skill 
in jumping. Few women possess all 
these qualities, but an effort should be 
made to obtain as many of them as 
possible before trying to jump. 
9 



122 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

The first lessons should be on a horse 

which has been well trained to this work 

and requires no assistance from 
In the Ring r, ij • 

his rider. He should inspire 

confidence, and jump easily and surely 
rather than brilliantly. I think it is 
well to begin in a school over bars, as 
there the rider is not under the neces- 
sity of choosing a good take-off or land- 
ing, and is thus free to give undivided 
attention to herself. 

Three feet is high enough to put the 
bars at the start; or they may be even 
Approaching l^wer should the rider feel 

Jump timid. As she approaches the 
jump she must sit firmly in the middle 
of the saddle (not hanging either to the 
right or to the left, thereby upsetting 
the horse's balance), and she must look 
straight at the obstacle, with her head 
up and her body thrown a trifle back. 
The reins should at first be held in both 



LEAPING 123 

hands, for several reasons. It lessens the 
chances of sitting crooked, and it pre- 
vents throwing up the right arm as the 
horse jumps — a common and unsightly 
practice, calculated to frighten him and 
distract his attention from his work, 
and to jerk his mouth, while it has 
no redeeming features. In addition to 
this, when the horse lands, the reins are 
not so liable to slip through two hands 
as through one. 

Approaching the jump, the horse 
should break into a moderate canter, 
and the only rule his rider will be likely 
to remember at the first trial will be to 
" lean back as he jumps and give him 
his head." As she becomes accustomed 
to the action, her attention must be 
called to details. While nearing the 
jump, she must keep her hands low, and 
just feel her horse's mouth with the 
snaffle without interfering with it or 



124 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

shifting her hold on the reins. Quiet, 
steady hands are indispensable to suc- 
cess. 

By watching his stride one can tell 

when he will take off. At that moment 

he will stretch out his neck; 

Taking off 

then she must, by instantly push- 
ing them forward, let her hands yield to 
his m.outh. This must be accurately cal- 
culated, for should the pressure on his 
mouth be varied too suddenly and at 
the wrong time, it would throw him out 
of his stride by letting go of his mouth 
when he needed steadying. Some ad- 
vocate leaning forward before leaning 
back as the horse takes off, but the 
slight involuntary motion communi- 
cated to the body by thrusting the 
hands forward will be sufficient to pre- 
cede the backward movement. Before 
he has finished his effort, she must lean 
back just enough (but no farther) to 




TAKING OFF 



LEAPING 125 

avoid being thrown forward by the ac- 
tion of his quarters or by the angle at 
which he comes down. Her left heel 
should not come in contact with him 
after he has taken off, although she may 
strike him with it to urge him on if he 
goes at the jump too slowly. Below 
the waist she must be firm and im- 
movable ; above, yielding and flexible. 
As the horse lands, she regains her up- 
right position, and should be care- 
Landing 

ful that he does not pull the reins 

through her fingers. Under all circum- 
stances she must have too firm a hold 
on the reins to admit of such an occur- 
rence. If the horse stumbles at the mo- 
ment of landing, he needs the support 
of her hands; or should he bolt, it must 
not be necessary to pull in the slack rein 
before being able to check him. 

One of the most erroneous theories 
extant is that it is desirable to '* lift " a 



126 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

horse at his fences. Doing so only ne- 
cessitates carrying the weight of 
his rider's hands on his mouth, 
and risks pulling the horse into the 
jump, while he is hindered from stretch- 
ing his neck, as he must to land safely 
and correctly. Hanging on to his mouth 
is often the cause of a horse's landing 
on all four feet at once, or dropping too 
close to the jump. The pull on the 
reins holds him back, thus inducing 
these bad habits, and will often make 
him refuse or dread to jump, knowing 
that it entails a sharp jerk on his sensi- 
tive mouth. To a casual or ignorant ob- 
server it sometimes looks as though a 
good rider were ** lifting " his horse; but 
it only appears so because, knowing in- 
tuitively at just what instant his hands 
must yield, he so accurately gives to the 
animal's mouth that the action of the 
horse's mouth and the rider's hands is 
simultaneous. 




ABOUT TO LAND 



LEAPING 127 

After some practice in the ring, a 

woman may try jumping out-of-doors, 

for inside there is not a suffi- 

Out of Doors . . r 1 . 1 J 

cient variety of obstacles; and 
she should then have a breast-plate at- 
tached to her saddle. By this time she 
should, in jumping, hold her reins in 
one hand, the snaffle inside, curb outside, 
and quite loose. As she goes towards a 
jump, her right hand should be placed 
in front of the left on the snaffle to 
steady the horse. In this way she can 
remove it without leaving an uneven 
pressure on the horse's mouth, as 
would be the case if, as is customary, 
her hand had rested on the two right 
reins, then been suddenly withdrawn in 
order to urge the horse with the whip, 
or to protect the face from overhang- 
ing branches. 

The most favorable conditions under 
which a woman may begin jumping in 



128 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

the country are when she can go across 

fields with a capable pilot to give 
Pilot , , , . , 

her a lead over some easy timber 

or walls. She must never forget to see 
that the horse in front of her is well 
away from the fence before she jumps, 
or she will risk landing on top of him 
if he makes a mistake ; or if he refuses, 
her horse, if too near, would be forced 
to do likewise. She should not allow 
herself to become dependent on the 
services of a pilot, or let her horse be- 
come accustomed to jumping only when 
he has a lead ; therefore she must learn 
to choose a panel of the fence for herself. 

Supposing the fences to be moderate, 
she must decide, as she canters towards 
Selecting a the first, where she will jump. 

Panel ^j^^j there are a number of con- 
siderations by which she must be gov- 
erned. First, to find a panel which is 
low, for in riding across country it is 



LEAPING 



129 



wise to save one's mount, as all his 
strength may be needed at a big place 
later on. Then the take-off must be 
looked to, sound level turf being chosen 
if possible ; and if the landing is plainly 
visible, so much the better. A moder- 
ately thick top rail is often safer to 
put a horse at than a very thin round 
one, which is liable to be a sapling, that 
will not break if a horse tries to crash 
through it, as he is sometimes tempted 
to do by its fragile appearance. 

It is well to send a horse at the mid- 
dle of a panel ; for, should he hit it, this, 
being the weakest spot, may break, while 
should he hit nearer the end, where it is 
strong, he may be thrown. Such details 
as these she will observe instinctively 
with a little practice. Having decided 
where she will jump, her horse's head 
must be pointed straight at the place, 
and her mind must not waver. If the 



130 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

rider is determined to go, and has no 
misgivings, the horse is sure to be in- 
spired with the same confidence. 

Having once put him at a panel, she 
should avoid changing her mind with- 
out good reason, as her uncertainty will 
be imparted to him. A fence such as 
described is jumped just as are the 
bars in the ring ; safely over it, the 
next obstacle must be examined. 

If it be a stone wall, it may often be 

taken in one of two places — either where 

it is high and even, or where it is 
stone Wall 

lower and wide, because of the 
stones which have fallen from the top. 
In the first instance it should be jumped 
in a collected manner, but at a slower 
pace than the second requires. At the 
latter some speed is necessary, as the 
horse must jump wide enough to avoid 
the rolling stones on both sides. 

Few riders remember that it is as im- 



LEAPING 13 1 

portant to keep a horse collected when 
going fast as at any other time. 
When he is hurried along, no 
chance is given him to measure his 
stride or get his legs well under him, 
but he is nevertheless expected to take 
off correctly and clear the obstacle. 

A good rider will always have her 
horse well in hand, and never hustle 
him at his fences, even if she goes at 
them with considerable speed. 

If the take-ofif looks treacherous, or 

is ploughed or muddy, the horse should 

Trappy Ground be brought to it at a trot, 

and Drops ^q\\ collected, and allowed 

to take his time at it. 

When the ground approaching the 
jump is uphill, or descending, the same 
tactics should be pursued, and unlimited 
rein given the horse. On encountering 
a drop on the far side of a fence or wall, 
a woman must lean back as far as pos- 



132 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

sible, leaving the reins long, but ready- 
to support the horse's head as he lands. 
At a trappy place, where, for instance, 
there might be a broken-down fence 
among some trees, overgrown with 
vines and bushes, the horse must be 
taken quietly and slowly and made to 
crawl through the gap. His rider will 
even then have enough trouble in keep- 
ing her feet clear of the vines, and in 
preventing the branches from hitting 
her face, which she could not do if a 
jump were made with a rush. If her 
horse carries his head high, she can 
probably pass where it has been with- 
out injury by leaning forward over his 
withers, to the right, and raising her 
right arm to ward off the branches 
with her whip or crop. 

Sometimes she will not notice a limb 
or other obstruction until almost under 
it, when it will be necessary for her to 



LEAPING 



^33 



lean back, resting her shoulders on the 
horse's quarters. Under these circum- 
stances it is most important that her 
right arm should guard her eyes from 
pieces of bark or other falling parti- 
cles. Where two fences are within a 

few feet of each other, form- 
in-and-out . 

mg an " in-and-out," the pace 

needs to be carefully regulated. If the 
horse goes very fast, he will jump so 
wide that he will land too close to the 
second fence to take off as he should. 
Therefore if he is rushing, his stride 
must be shortened and his hind-legs 
brought well under him. 

On the other hand, he must not go 
so slowly that all impetus for the sec- 
ond effort is lost, as he would then be 
likely to refuse. It is difficult to turn 
him in so short a space and get him 
into his stride before he is called upon 
to jump. 

lO 



134 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

At a ditch or stream considerable 
speed is needed to gain the momentum 
necessary to cover the distance, and the 
horse must have plenty of rein given 
him. 

A picket fence is usually regarded as 
a very formidable obstacle, but if nego- 
Picket and Slat ^iated properly it is no worse 
Fences ^han others. It should be 
taken at a good rate of speed, for the 
danger is that the horse will get hung 
up on it and be cut with the points 
by not having enough impetus. It is 
not so dangerous to hit this fence in 
front, for it is frail and the top of the 
pickets will snap off at the binder if hit 
with force. A slat fence is more to be 
dreaded, on account of the ledge on the 
top of it formed by the binder. This 
should be taken with deliberation, as the 
thing to be guarded against is having 
the horse hit his knees on the ledge 



LEAPING 



135 



which protrudes a couple of inches be- 
yond the fence. The lower slats give 
way easily if they are approached from 
the side where the posts are ; if from 
the opposite direction, they are braced 
against the posts and offer great resist- 
ance. 

Any fence that has wire on it should 

be avoided if possible, unless the horse 

has been trained to jump it. When 

Wire . 1,1 r r 

it extends along the top of a fence, 
the horse should be made to jump a 
post, as it is not safe to count on his 
seeing the wire. If the fence is made 
of strands of wire, with only a binder 
of timber, it should be taken slowly, 
so that the horse will not attempt to 
crash through it, under the impression 
that it is a single bar. 

A stone wall having a rail on top must 
be taken in the horse's stride, for con- 
siderable swing is required, as there is 



136 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

width as well as height to clear. When 
Combined ^ ditch is on the near side of a 
Obstacles ^y^\\ qj- fence, the horse should 
be allowed time to see it. When it is 
on the landing side, he should be sent at 
it fast enough to carry him safely over. 

Thus far I have been supposing that 
the horse has gone without a mistake, 
Under these circumstances he should 
not be struck — ^just to encourage him, 
as some maintain — -"or he will grow to 
dislike jumping if associated with a blow. 

No woman who rides much can ex- 
pect to be always so perfectly mounted; 
therefore, a few suggestions as to what 
she should do in emergencies may be 
of practical value. 

The most common fault of the jumper 
is refusing, and it must be dealt with ac- 
cording to its cause. If it arises 
from weakness in the hocks, the 
horse hesitating to propel himself by 



LEAPING 137 

them, or from weak knees, or corns 
that cause him to dread the concussion 
of landing, he should not be forced to 
jump — it is both cruel and unsafe. 
If he be sound and well, and the fence 
not beyond his capabilities, the rider 
must know whether the disinclina- 
tion to jump comes from timidity or 
from temper. She will soon learn to 
distinguish between the two, but it is 
difficult to lay down any rule for rec- 
ognizing the difference. If she 

Timidity . . ^ , , 

thinks it IS for the former 
reason, the cause may be that he was 
not in his stride when he should have 
taken off, and was allowed to sprawl 
as he cantered. She should take him 
back and keep him well collected, mak- 
ing him take short, quick strides in the 
canter, measuring the distance, and giv- 
ing him his head when he should take 
off. If he seems inclined to swerve or 



138 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

hesitate, the whip, appHed just when he 
should rise, will often prevent his stop- 
ping. When over, a caress and a word 
of praise will greatly encourage him. 

Temper is a very different and a very 
difficult thing to manage. Coaxing and 

ingenuity may accomplish some- 
Temper . , . - 

thmg ; turnmg hmi short at an- 
other place will often surprise him into 
jumping before he realizes it. The 
human voice has great power over ani- 
mals, and a few loud, sharp exclama- 
tions, with a quick use of the whip, may 
make him take off when otherwise he 
would have refused. A really obstinate 
horse, having made up his mind not to 
jump, needs such a thrashing as a wom- 
an is seldom able to give him. If she 
begins it, she must keep it up until 
she has conquered him, or he will try 
the same trick constantly. 

As a horse almost invariably turns to 



LEAPING 139 

the left when he refuses, a sharp crack 
on the near shoulder, being unusual 
and unexpected, sometimes prevents 
his turning. When, in one way or an- 
other, he finally has been forced to 
yield, he should be rewarded by a few 
words of approval. At the next fence 
a firm hold, keeping his head straight 
and his legs well under him, will be of 
more service than a whip, unless he re- 
fuses again, when the lesson must be re- 
peated. 

At least half uf the refusals are the 
fault of the rider, and it is most unjust 
Rider at ^^ punish a horse at such times. 
Fault Unfortunately, conceit is such a 
common failing that few of us are will- 
ing to acknowledge ourselves in the 
wrong, therefore the poor horse suffers 
for our error. The timid rider sends the 
horse at an obstacle in such a half- 
hearted way that he does not know 



140 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

whether he is expected to jump or not; 
or, feeling his rider waver, he imagines 
there must be unknown dangers con- 
nected with the place, and so hesitates 
to encounter them. One of a woman's 
frequent failings is shifting the reins as 
she nears a jump. This form of ner- 
vousness is very disconcerting to a 
horse, and takes his mind from the 
work in front of him. 

Lack of skill makes one lug at a 
horse's mouth just as he is getting ready- 
to jump, thus throwing him out of his 
stride and frustrating his effort. After 
one or two refusals, a woman often puts 
her horse at the place in a mechanical 
way, fully expecting the animal to stop, 
and doing nothing to guard against 
such an occurrence. If she would in- 
stead then summon all her courage, 
and determine to go either over or 
through the fence, and ride at it with 



LEAPING 141 

resolution, the horse would be infected 
with her spirit and probably clear the 
obstacle, as he would have done at 
first had his rider's heart then been in 
the right place. In such cases it does 
not seem fair to punish a horse for 
our own want of nerve. 



IX 

LEA?mG— (Continued) 



/^~^N a horse which rushes when put 

^^ at a jump, the use of the whip will 

only make matters worse. This habit 

of rushing comes most frequent- 
Rushers 

\y from the horse havmg been 

frightened while being taught to jump, 
either by extreme harshness and pun- 
ishment or from having hurt himself 
severely. Even if it comes from vi- 
ciousness, quiet, kind treatment will 
do more to eradicate the tendency than 
coercive measures. 

Such a horse should be walked towards 
a fence until within half a dozen strides 
of it. This can best be achieved by not 
indicating that he will be expected to 
jump, but by approaching it as though 



146 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

by chance. Otherwise the restraint will 
make him the more unmanageable when 
he does start. He should be induced 
to stand a few moments, while his rider 
strokes him and talks to him in a sooth- 
ing way. The snaffle should then be 
gradually and quietly shortened until 
there is a light but firm feeling on the 
reins, when a pressure of the leg (not of 
the heel, which might suggest a spur) 
will put him to a trot. If the hands be 
held low and steady and the voice be 
soft and pacifying, they will probably 
prevail upon him to trot all the way, 
although he may break into a canter a 
stride before the jump. When over it 
he should be gently, not sharply, pulled 
up, and coaxed to walk again, or, bet- 
ter still, to trot slowly. When he has 
learned to jump from the trot he will 
soon do so from a slow canter, which 
will be more trying for him, as it has a 



LEAPING 147 

closer resemblance to the gait at which 

he has been in the habit of rushing, and 

he will therefore be inclined to return to 

his old failing. 

Sometimes a horse will not go near a 

fence, and on being urged will back or 

rear. If he persists in backing, 
Balkers 

his head should be turned away 

from the jump, and when he finds his 
movements only bring him nearer the 
fence, he will stop. If then he is made 
to wheel suddenly, and can be kept go- 
ing by whip or spur, he will be likely to 
jump. Should he, instead, face the di- 
rection in which he should go, and rear 
whenever an attempt is made to urge 
him forward, the whip only inciting him 
to rear higher, the woman who hopes to 
triumph over him must resort to strat- 
egy ; she must not whip him, at the risk 
of his falling back on her. 

A ruse which may prove successful is 



148 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

to occupy his attention by playing with 
his mouth while he is allowed to go di- 
agonally towards the fence. He will be 
apt to concede this point, in the hope 
of bolting alongside of it ; but when he 
has been inveigled into a closer prox- 
imity to the jump, even if he be par- 
allel to it, and before he has time to di- 
vine his rider's intention, he should be 
turned sharply to the fence. He must 
be ridden at it resolutely and with a firm 
hand, while a determined swing of the 
body, corresponding to his stride, con- 
veys to his mind the impression that 
he will be forced to jump. If he can 
be kept moving forward, he cannot 
rear; therefore, should he attempt to 
swerve or bolt, a blow from the whip 
will keep him straight, and when he 
should take off, another will guard 
against a refusal. 

A sluggish animal calls for constant 



LEAPING 



49 



watching, as he cannot be trusted at 
small places any more than at 
large ones. He is always liable 
to rap, or even fall, at his fences, because 
of the careless, slovenly manner in which 
he moves. He should be forced up to 
the bit, and kept active by the whip, the 
noise of which is desirable in his case, 
as it will assist in rousing him. If his 
laziness or sulkiness is such that he 
will endeavor to crash through fences, 
he is not suitable for any woman to 
ride. He may miscalculate his power 
and come in contact with a rail which 
withstands his weight, when a fall will 
ensue. 

In this case the lunging-rein should 
be resorted to, and, either in a ring or 
out-of-doors, the horse should be put 
over some stiff bars, that he may learn 
he will be hurt if he touches them. I do 
not approve of intentionally throwing 
II 



150 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

him by pulling him in the jump ; there 
are too many chances of his being in- 
jured, even though he has no weight 
to carry. The bars should be strong 
enough to sustain his weight, without 
breaking, so that if he hits them hard he 
will have a tumble and a lesson. The 
top bar should, if possible, be covered 
with straw, to protect the knees from 
sharp edges. Some forcible raps and 
a few tumbles will teach the horse the 
necessity of exerting himself, and how 
to bend his knees and lift his hind-legs 
over a jump. 

A fall is, at the best, a dangerous and 
often a disastrous affair for a woman, 
whose very position on a horse 
lessens the chance of escape from 
such a predicament without injury. A 
safety skirt will prevent her being 
dragged ; but much harm may result 
from the fall, even though she be clear 



LEAPING 151 

of the horse when he gets up. If she is 
not hurt, there is still danger that the 
shock to her nerves will weaken her 
pluck. Should such symptoms appear, 
she should remount at once ; for the 
longer she waits the greater will be her 
apprehension, and it might end in her 
never regaining her nerve. She should 
make as light of the casualty as pos- 
sible, and not regard it seriously if 
she has been only somewhat bruised or 
shaken up. 

It is marvellous how many and what 
ugly falls one can encounter without be- 
ing any the worse for them ; neverthe- 
less, no precaution should be neglected 
to prevent exposure to them. When 
a woman has experienced several, she 
will know instinctively what to do ; but 
at first she should try to bear in mind 
some points which may help her on 
such occasions. 



152 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

A rider not accustomed to jumping 
will probably lose her seat if the horse 
hits a fence with much force; as she 
feels herself going she should try to 
grasp the animal's neck, and not at- 
tempt to keep on by the aid of the 
reins, for by so doing she might throw 
him. Even if she has gone farther 
than the saddle, if she can fling her 
weight, above the waist, to the off side 
of the horse's neck, she will balance 
there for a moment, and that will give 
her time to grasp the saddle and pull 
herself back. Should she find herself 
beyond that, then as she slips off she 
can keep her head from the ground by 
seizing hold of the breast-plate with 
one hand, but without letting go of the 
reins. 

These must always be retained, as 
their possession renders it impossible 
for the horse to reach her with his 



LEAPING 153 

heels, and precludes the chance of his 
getting away. 

If the horse bungles the jump, or 
comes down on his knees without 
disturbing his rider's equilibrium, and 
seems likely to fall, a woman cannot 
disentangle herself from him in time 
to get away. If he should go down, 
therefore, she must sit evenly, leaning 
back, that her weight may be taken from 
his fore-legs, while he is allowed plenty 
of rein. He may thus regain his balance 
or his footing after a scramble ; but it 
will be impossible, in a slow fall like this, 
for a woman to be thrown clear of him. 
As he will not roll immediately, the 
closer she sits the better ; so that if he 
tumbles on his near side, the force of 
the blow will be broken by the pom- 
mels, which, if she be sitting close, will 
hit the ground first, thus protecting her 
legs from the concussion. Moreover, if 



154 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

she were half out of the saddle, the pom- 
mels might strike her chest or crush a 
rib, and she would be more likely to be 
kicked. 

As the horse makes an effort to get 
up, she must be ready to extricate her- 
self from him and scramble as far away 
as possible, as the danger then is that 
he will not regain his feet, but will sink 
down a second time and thus roll over 
his prostrate rider. 

If he should fall on his off side, a 
woman must strive to get clear on 
that side as he lands, and not where 
the horse's feet are. 

Where a ditch has caused a fall, it is 
usually from unsound banks ; therefore, 
inattemptingto climb out, firmer ground 
should be chosen. If the woman has 
been thrown and the horse has landed 
on top of her, the ditch being deep or 
narrow, she must try to keep his head 



LEAPING 155 

down until help arrives, so that he can- 
not strike her, as he might do, because 
of the limited space, in his struggles to 
get up. 

In a stream, if she has preserved her 
seat, she must keep the horse moving, or 
he will be inclined to lie down. 

If she has been thrown into the water, 
she must obtain a hold on the saddle 
and the reins, but use only the for- 
mer to support herself until the horse 
reaches the shore. 

In all of these events a cool head and 
presence of mind will be of the greatest 
assistance ; but when a horse turns com- 
pletely over at a fence, or falls heavily 
and without warning, to drop her stir- 
rup, relax her muscles, and get clear of 
him as best she may is all a woman can 
do. 

Occasionally, after a number of jumps, 
the girths become loosened and the sad- 



156 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

die begins to turn. In such an emer- 
gency the horse's mane should be firm- 
ly grasped and the foot taken out of 
the stirrup. The horse should be quiet- 
ed and stopped, if he is not too much 
startled by the turning saddle. With a 
breast-plate it will probably not turn all 
the way, and her hold of the mane will 
enable a woman to keep her head up 
until some one comes to the rescue. 

It will probably be a long time before 
such a variety of contingencies as I have 
mentioned will happen to any one rider. 
A well -mounted woman may jump a 
great deal and escape with only a few 
tumbles. If she perseveres, there will 
be so many delightful experiences to 
counterbalance each mishap that she \vill 
gladly risk the consequences of indulg- 
ing in a sport which, to so great an 
extent as leaping, develops her nerve, 
skill, and self-possession. 



X 

RIDING TO HOUNDS 



WHETHER hounds are running 
on the scent of a fox or a drag, 
a woman who is following them should 
always remember certain points to guide 
her in her conduct and in the manage- 
ment of her horse while in the field. 
Many a beginner renders herself ob- 
jectionable by striving to take 
Courtesy ^ ^^^^^ among the hard riders 

of the first flight. 

It is not to be expected that a wom- 
an without experience in the hunting- 
field can keep up with those who have 
followed hounds for several seasons ; and 
should she attempt it, the probable re- 
sult would be a fall not only endanger- 
ing herself and her horse, but compel- 



l6o HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

liner some man to come to her assist- 
ance, and thereby perhaps lose the re- 
mainder of the run. Even though too 
well mounted to have this occur, there 
are countless ways in which a novice, 
in endeavoring to keep on even terms 
with the leaders, may unwittingly call 
down anything but blessings on her 
head from those for whose good opin- 
ion she most cares. It is a mistake for 
her to suppose that people are watch- 
ing her, ready to admire her pluck and 
dash, when she crashes through fences 
because her horse was not collected, or 
rides so close to the hounds as to risk 
hitting them. If she flatters herself 
that she is cutting out the work, it is 
pretty certain she has no business to be 
so far forward, and that she will add to 
the number of men who consider the 
hunting-field no place for women. 
A beginner should be content to stay 



RIDING TO HOUNDS l6l 

behind the first flight until, by experi- 
ence and skill, she has earned 

The Novice , . , 

the right to take a better place. 

At first she should find out which of 
the men go straight, yet ride cautious- 
ly and manage to keep the hounds in 
sight. Such a one she should choose as 
her pilot, rather than a reckless rider or 
one who shirks his fences. Unless she is 
very well acquainted with him, a woman 
should not let a man know that she is 
following him. It annoys him to think 
that some one is *' tagging on behind," 
or that he is responsible for the jumps 
she takes. Above all things, she must 
invariably give him or any one in front 
of her time to get well away from a 
jump before she takes it. This is of 
the utmost importance, and is a point 
neglected by men and women alike in 
the excitement and impatience of a 
run. 



1 62 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

If she desires to be looked upon 
otherwise than as a nuisance, she must 
be as unobtrusive and cool-headed as 
possible, always courteous to and con- 
siderate of others, patient when waiting 
for her turn at a narrow place, and not 
try to take jumps that well -mounted, 
hard-riding men deem impracticable. 

Women seldom need to be urged 

on in the hunting-field ; they require 

rather to be cautioned and 

Hard Riding . , rr ^ 

restramed. If they are new 
at it, they do not know the dangers to 
which they are exposed, so go reckless- 
ly ; if they appreciate the chances they 
take, they grit their teeth and go des- 
perately ; if they are timid they never- 
theless resolve not to be outdone, and, 
trusting all to their horse, go blindly, 
even closing their eyes at a critical 
moment. Therefore hard riding does 
not prove that a woman has either 



RIDING TO HOUNDS 163 

pluck or skill. She is an exception 
who goes straight and keeps with the 
hounds without taking foolish risks, un- 
necessarily tiring her mount, or interfer- 
ing with others, for this requires judg- 
ment, discretion, skill, and nerve. 

An undesirable trait observed in 
many instances is jealous riding. This 

cannot be too strongly con- 
Jealous Riding 1 r 1 

demned, not only for the un- 
sportsmanlike spirit it betrays, but be- 
cause it often threatens the safety of 
others than those who ride in that man- 
ner. A jealous rider crowds past peo- 
ple, jumps too close to them, and is 
constantly trying to be among the first, 
regardless of the consequences to those 
he or she hurries by. The motive that 
usually actuates a woman in such a 
case is vanity. She cannot bear to see 
another woman ahead of her, so she 
dashes along unmindful of the rules of 



164 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

etiquette and the hunting -field, until 
by pushing, crowding, and taking big 
chances for herself and against others, 
she reaches the object of her jealousy, 
thinking to wrest from her the admira- 
tion of the field. If the other woman 
is of the same mind and objects to be- 
ing passed, a steeple-chase will ensue 
that may end in accidents, disabled 
hounds, and bad feelings. Admiration 
is far from the minds of the spectators, 
who do not fail to see that jealousy and 
vanity, not eagerness for sport, are the 
incentives to such hard riding. 

When a woman begins riding to 
hounds, she should already have had 
Desirable some experience in larking a 
Qualities horse across country, and be ac- 
quainted with the way to take the dif- 
ferent kinds of jumps she will encoun- 
ter during a run. If she starts with a 
good seat and hands, pluck and nerve, 



RIDING TO HOUNDS 165 

a little time and practice will add com- 
posure, judgment, and discretion, and 
the experience necessary to cross a stiff 
country without mishap. She may then 
discard the services of a pilot and ride 
her own line. 

When hounds are thrown in, she must 
w^atch them, and, although not inter- 
Getting Bering with their work, be ready 
Away ^Q gg^ away on good terms with 
them when they begin to run. 

Indecision at the first two jumps may 
cost one dearly, for during that moment 
of hesitation hounds slip away, horses 
crowd one another and begin to refuse, 
while the few who make the most of 
their opportunities ride on ahead with 
the hounds. Much hard galloping may 
retrieve the lost ground, but a stern 
chase is always disheartening to horse 
and rider. By getting away in front, 
both are encouraged, and start with mut- 
12 



l66 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

ual good-will and satisfaction — relations 

which should always exist between a 

hunter and his rider. 

If, after pointing her horse's head at 

a certain part of a jump, she thinks 

another place is more invit- 
Indecision 

ing, she must not change her 

course, unless certain that she can do 
so without inconveniencing some one 
else who may have been going straight 
at it. 

It is inexcusable to turn from one 
place to another by cutting in ahead of 
following riders. It throws their horses 
out of their stride, and may force them 
to pull up in order to avoid a collision. 
Therefore, in suddenly changing her di- 
rection, a woman must assure herself 
that she is at least half a dozen lengths 
in front of her follower, who is going 
straight, or she must wait until she has 
been passed. 



RIDING TO HOUNDS 1 67 

When a horse refuses, the rule is that 

the rider shall immediately pull out and 

give the next a chance to 

Right of Way ^^ 

jump. Ihis is so oiten over- 
looked in the field, that a few words 
seem desirable to impress its impor- 
tance upon the minds of those who 
hunt. 

Women particularly seem to consider 
themselves privileged to keep their 
horse at a fence while he refuses at 
each trial, blocking the way, if there 
is no other place to jump, of those in 
their rear. Frequently, when her horse 
refuses, his rider thinks there is time 
to try it again before the next one 
reaches the place; she puts him at the 
fence, in her hurry turning him so 
short he could not jump if he wanted 
to, and the result is that he stops just 
as the other horse arrives, whose rider 
is thereby obliged to pull up. 



l68 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

Had the woman pulled to one side 
in the first place, and waited until her 
follower had given her horse a lead, 
which would probably have induced 
him to jump, both, would ha'^e been 
in the next field much sooner than her 
impatience in the first instance eventu- 
ally permitted. 

A horse should not be ridden be- 
hind one that is likely to refuse. 

Funk , , . ,. , 

or he may be mchned to imitate 
the misdoings of his predecessor. 

In the same way, it is injudicious to 
take a horse to a place where others 
are refusing, either from their own or 
their riders' timidity. He is liable to 
be infected with their faint -hearted- 
ness; for it needs an unusually sensible, 
reliable horse to be the first to jump 
out from a crowd at a place that has 
stopped those in front of him. 

It is far better for a woman to 



Riding to hounds 169 

choose another way of reaching the 
hounds than to risk adding to the 
number of refusers, unless she be so 
well mounted as to be sure of giving 
the rest a lead. 

A hot-headed, excitable horse will go 
more quietly if he can be made to think 
Excitable and ^^ is ahead of the others. 
Sluggish Horses Therefore his rider should 
choose a line for herself, apart from the 
others, and if he is a good performer it 
will be safer to put him at a big jump 
where he can take it coolly than to 
trust him at a smaller place where oth- 
er horses are crowding and goading him 
into a state of such impatience that in 
his anxiety to overtake any one in front 
of him he will jump without calcula- 
tion, and endanger all in his vicinity by 
kicking, rearing, or rushing. 

A sluggish horse, on the contrary, 
should be kept near others, that their 



lyo HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

lead and example may arouse his am- 
bition and keep up his heart. It will 
not do to allow such a horse to fall 
far behind, as he will probably get 
discouraged and refuse to jump with- 
out a fight, at the end of which the 
hunt may have disappeared in the dis- 
tance. 

It is never wise to ride on the line of 
hounds, but rather to the right or left 
Proximity to ^^ them. Horses directly be- 

Hounds i^jnd them frighten the hounds 
and interfere with their hunting. It 
also makes a few run very fast to keep 
from being galloped over, while many 
others sneak away or get behind the 
horses, of whose heels they stand in 
terror. 

It is a nuisance to be obliged to stop 
and give some slow hound a chance to 
get by, or, if not considerate enough to 
do this, no rider likes to see a hound 



RIDING TO HOUNDS 171 

going through a fence with the proba- 
biHty of having a horse jump on him, 
should he pause for a moment on the 
other side. 

A. woman will escape these occur- 
rences if she will keep to one side of 
the pack. In this position it is per- 
missible to ride farther up than when 
so doing w^ould bring her too near the 
pack; but the leading hounds must be 
watched closely, and should always be 
allowed plenty of room to turn sharp to 
the side where she is, without bringing 
them in contact with her horse. The 
instant they check, or even hover, for 
a moment, a woman must stop, and 
for two reasons : 

In the first place, because she does 
not want to be in the way should it 
be necessary to cast the hounds in her 
direction ; and, secondly, because she 
should seize every opportunity of giv- 



172 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

ing her horse a few moments' respite, 
which she can afford to do if well 
enough up to notice what the hounds 
are doing. 

She must be guided as to her course 
Choosing ^y the character of the country 
a Line Qygj- ^yhich she is riding. 

If the hounds run over a succession 
of small hills, much unnecessary exertion 
may often be spared the horse by gal- 
loping around the base of them, instead 
of over their crest. But the hounds 
must not be lost sight of too long, or a 
sharp turn may hide them from view 
and conceal the line they have taken. 

When a very steep hill is to be de- 
scended, it should be done by going 
down sideways in a zig-zag course, so 
that in case of a slip or stumble the 
horse will not roll over, as he might 
if attempting to make the descent in 
a straight line. 



RIDING TO HOUNDS 1 73 

If the going is rough or through 
furze or some low growth of under- 
brush, a woman should sit well back 
in her saddle, and although guiding 
her horse, allow him plenty of rein to 
stretch his neck and see where he is 
putting his feet. Should he stumble 
or step into a hole, she will in this way 
have the best chance of keeping her 
seat, and he of regaining his balance. 

If riding in a district where wire is 
extensively used for fencing, it will not 
do for a woman to go very far to one 
side of the hounds or to try to cut out 
a line for herself, unless she knows the 
country. Otherwise she may get pock- 
eted by the wire, which few horses here 
are trained to jump, and which, there- 
fore, should not be ridden at. In this 
case she would have to go back the 
way she came until she could get clear 
of it. 



174 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

In jumping towards the sun, extra pre- 
cautions should be taken. A horse is 
often quite blinded, and unable to accu- 
rately gauge the size of the jump he is 
to take, especially if it is timber. When 
the rays are directly in his eyes, the best 
thing to do is to walk him up to and 
alongside of the fence for a few yards, 
giving him a chance to measure it, then 
take him back and put him at it. This 
must not be done where it will inter- 
fere with any one else, but in any case 
such a jump must be approached slowly. 

Wide ditches and streams are prob- 
ably shirked as often as any kind of 
jump. Too much preparation for them 
excites the horse's suspicions and makes 
him hesitate, then refuse. A horse 
must be kept collected, yet sent along 
too fast to admit of any faltering on 
his part, and there must be no involun- 
tary checking of his stride as the rider 



RIDING TO HOUNDS 1 75 

tries to see the depth or width of ditch 
or stream. When such are in sight, it 
is well to quicken the horse's pace, that 
he may reach the place before he sees 
any horse refusing, or before the banks 
have been made unsound by the jump- 
ing of the others. Each horse will prob- 
ably widen the distance as the ground 
gives way beneath him, so a woman 
must use her own judgment in decid- 
ing where she will jump, instead of 
following some one else. 

A bog or swamp is a most disagree- 
able place in which to be caught, and 
calls for calmness to get out without a 
whetting or fall. To quiet the horse is 
the first thing, and prevent his plung- 
ing into it deeper and deeper, as he 
will with every struggle. Should he be 
sinking, his rider must get off, keep- 
ing hold of the reins, for, although their 
combined weight would cause the bog 



176 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

to give beneath them, they might separ- 
ately be able to keep on the surface, 
and quietly and gradually work their 
way to firm ground. 

Whenever one comes upon some- 
thing that cannot be seen at a distance, 
such as a hole, a drop, or a wire, the first 
person who discovers it should warn 
those behind by shouting back what it 
is, and, if possible, motioning where it 
is, that those in the rear may avoid it, 
each person cautioning the next one. 



XI 

SYMPATHY BETWEEN HORSE 
AND WOMAN 



THE advantages derived from the 
existence of sympathy between 
horse and rider cannot be too highly 
estimated. When a woman gives her 
horse to understand that he will be 
ruled by kindness, he is very certain to 
serve her far more willingly and faith- 
fully than if she tried to control him 
by force. If he has learned to be fond 
of her voice, it will calm and reassure 
him in moments of excitement which 
might otherwise result in a runaway ; 
it will stimulate him to expend his 
best energies at her command, when 
force or punishment would fail, and will 
do more to establish a mutual under- 
standing in a few weeks than would be 



l8o HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

gained in as many months of silent con- 
trol. 

A horse soon learns to distinguish the 
intonation of words of praise from those 
of censure, terms of endearment from ad- 
monition, and will often respond to them 
more readily than to severe discipline. 

Few horses are so dull as not to be 
susceptible to kindness, or so vicious as 
not to be influenced by gentle treat- 
ment. 

I do not approve of a woman, once 
she is in the saddle, entering upon a 
Talking to lengthy address of endearment 
Horse ^q j^^j- horse if she is riding with 
friends. They may care for a little of 
her attention themselves ; it is just as 
well not to show them the horse is the 
more interesting, even if she feels so. 

Moreover, incessant chatter becomes 
after a little time so familiar to the ani- 
mal that the voice loses its power when 



SYMPATHY l8l 

intended to convey a definite meaning, 
and he fails to distinguish the difference 
between commands and idle pettings. 

It is only necessary to reprove him, 
to give words of command, such as 
" walk," '' trot,' " canter," " whoa," which 
he may easily be taught to obey, and 
a few words accompanied by a caress 
to soothe, encourage, or command him 
when the occasion presents itself. 

When living in the country, with a 
stable near the house, a woman is af- 
forded the most favorable opportunity 
of making friends with her horse. 

A good way to begin will be to dis- 
mount at the stable after a ride and 
take off the saddle and bridle. 

It is very simple, for it is only to un- 
buckle the outside leather girth, stir- 
rup leather, two inside girths, and per- 
haps a balance strap, and take off the 
saddle, unfasten the throat latch, lip 
13 



1 82 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

strap, and curb chain on the bridle, 
throw the reins over his head, and take 
hold of the headstall, when he will with- 
draw his head. 

She must have his halter ready to 
put on at once, or he might pull away. 

This will give him a pleasant impres- 
sion of her, which is an important point 
gained. 

Should she through some mistake 
find no one in the stable, and the horse 
in a heat at the end of her ride, she 
should not hesitate to scrape him her- 
self, brush the mud off his legs, put a 
light blanket on him, give him only a 
mouthful of water, and put him in his 
stall with a little hay. If she will rub 
his ears, and sponge out his mouth, it 
will be a great relief to him. 

All this should be accomplished in a 
quiet manner, nothing done to alarm or 
excite him ; and she may talk to him 



SYMPATHY 183 

most of the time, and thus become 

quite friendly with him. 

When she visits him in the stall, 

she should always speak before touch- 
ing him or enterincr otherwise 

In the stall , . , , 

he might be startled and kick 

or plunge from fright. 

If in a standing stall, entrance should 
always be made at the near side of the 
horse. 

I greatly prefer a loose box in which 
the horse may turn at his pleasure. If 
he eats too much of his bedding, it is 
better to keep a leather muzzle on him 
than to tie his head up. 

Before opening the door of the box, 
he should be induced to face it, to avoid 
the possibility of his kicking. This can 
be managed by offering him seme sugar, 
carrots, or oats, which he will come for, 
held quietly on the palm of the hand, 
with the fingers out of his reach. 



184 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

It is well for a woman, at first, to keep 
a light hold of the halter, so that he 
cannot crush her against the wall or hit 
her with his head. She should never 
put her head above his, or a severe 
knock may be the result. She should 
pet him, avoiding all sudden move- 
ments, and accustom him to her voice ; 
when it has become familiar to him, he 
will listen for it, and neigh at her ap- 
proach. 

If he seems inclined to kick, the closer 
she keeps to him the better, as then she 
will receive only a shove, instead of the 
full force of the blow. If he shows a 
tendency to nip or bite, from play or 
mischief, he should be muzzled until, 
by coaxing and kindness, he has been 
made to give it up. 

To strike him would be to turn his 
playful though dangerous prank into a 
vicious habit. 



SYMPATHY 185 

In petting him she should begin by 
stroking his neck, and gradually work 
down and backwards with a firm, light 
touch, until he does not resent being 
handled. He must be taught to let her 
lean on any part of him, and not to fear 
her skirts. This is often of value in 
case a woman is thrown and her habit 
catches on the saddle; for if the horse 
were accustomed to her weight and 
skirt being against him, he would not 
become frightened. Knowing her voice, 
he might be quieted by it, and had he 
learned the important lesson of stop- 
ping at the word " whoa," she might 
escape being dragged. 

If in the course of a ride a woman 

dismounts at a house or stable, she 

should always be sure that a 
On the Road 

light blanket is immediately 

thrown over her horse. She should not 

start for a ride until some time after her 



1 86 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

horse has been fed, or his digestion will 
become impaired, as would hers under 
similar circumstances. After mounting, 
it is always well, by a light hold of the 
snaffle, to make a horse walk a short 
while ; it is most annoying to have him 
start with a series of plunges or an in- 
clination to bolt. 

If he is so fresh that he will not walk 
without restraint likely to irritate him, 
perhaps spoiling his temper for the rest 
of the ride, it will be better to let him in- 
dulge in a brisk trot, after which he may 
be brought back to a walk. The next 
time, if having had more w^ork, he will 
walk at first, while had his mouth been 
jerked the previous time, or a fight en- 
sued, he would remember it, and pre- 
pare for a repetition of the perform- 
ance. 

A horse should not of his own will 
be allowed to change his gaits, but his 



S\-MPATHV 1^7 

rider must think to var}* them; for if 
the horse is kept on one too long, it 
tires him unnecessarily and causes him 
to travel carelessly. Whatever gait she 
makes him adopt, it should be dis- 
tinct and regular, and he should be 
kept collected and not urged beyond 
the pace at which he can comfortably 
travel. 

A jog-trot, trotting in front and can- 
tering behind, and other such eccen- 
tricities, should not be permit- 
Cautions , . , 1 , 
ted m a park hack. 

In turning a corner, the horse should 
always be somewhat supported, and 
have his hind-legs brought well under 
him, or he will be liable to slip. He 
should never be cantered around a cor- 
ner unless leading with the foot tow- 
ards which he will turn. 

He should not be pulled up abruptly, 
unless to avoid sudden obstacles, but 



l88 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

his pace should be gradually decreased 
until it is as required. A sharp stop en- 
tails considerable strain on the back ten- 
dons and hocks, and if done too often 
would be apt to make the horse throw 
a curb. 

In going downhill, a walk is the gait 
which should be taken, or the horse's 
fore-legs will suffer. Should the ground 
be uneven and rough, or covered with 
rolling stones, the horse ought to be 
permitted to walk. His head should 
not be held too tightly, or he will be 
unable to see where he is going, while 
if the reins are slack he will appreciate 
that he must pick his way, and then 
will seldom put a foot wrong. 

It is most undesirable to canter where 
there is a hard road ; nothing will more 
quickly use up a horse than pounding 
along, each stride laying the foundation 
of windgalls and stiffness, if nothing 



SYMPATHY 189 

more serious results from this ill-advised 
practice. 

If a horse is at all warm, he must never 
be allowed to stand in a draught; five 
minutes of it might founder him, so 
that he would be ruined, or thrown 
into pneumonia. If, while on her ride, 
a woman should be forced to wait, she 
must keep her horse moving in a circle 
or any other way, keeping his chest 
from the wind as much as possible. Be- 
fore reaching home, the horse should be 
walked for some time, so that he may 
enter the stable cool, and not be endan- 
gered by draughts if not attended to at 
once. 

When riding with others, their horses 
should be regarded : and as the woman 
sets the pace, she should not make it 
faster than that which her companions' 
horses can easily maintain. 



XII 

PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE OF 
THE STABLE 



'nr^HE woman should visit her horse 

•^ in the stable, and there she cannot 

talk to him too much. If it be a private 

one, I assume that it is construct- 

Stabling 

ed on hygienic principles; but as 

horses are frequently boarded at livery- 
stables, a woman should not leave the 
choice of a stall to her groom. She 
should see that of those procurable it is 
the best drained and ventilated, though 
free from draughts, and well lighted. If 
these conditions are not obtained, sick- 
ness and incapacity may be looked for 
in the horse. She should notice the feed 
occasionally, and see that her horse is 
supplied with all he requires, and of the 
best quality, and that he has an abun- 



194 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

dance of good bedding. A frequent or 
indiscriminate use of physics is to be 
deprecated. Pure air, good food, care- 
ful grooming, and regular, moderate ex- 
ercise are the best tonics. 

She must learn to pick up her horse's 
feet, as she should examine his shoes 
Picking up personally, and ascertain that 

^^^^ they have been made to fit the 
feet, instead of the horn being rasped 
away to fit the shoes. The soles must 
be pared, but the frogs and bars should 
not be interfered with. She cannot ex- 
pect to have the shoes on more than 
a month ; although, if the horse has 
not had enough work to wear them 
down, they may be removed and put 
on again, for were they worn too long, 
corns and inflammation, causing lame- 
ness, would be the result. Another rea- 
son for knowing how to lift his feet is 
that he might pick up a stone on the 



KNOWLEDGE OF THE STABLE I95 

road, and if alone she would be obliged 
to take it out, or run the risk of serious- 
ly laming him. While a woman is play- 
ing with him is an excellent opportuni- 
ty for her to look at her horse's feet, 
which should be taken up in the fol- 
lowing manner. 

She must stand on his near side, a 
trifle back of his fore-legs, and facing his 
hind ones. She should run her left hand 
from his knee to his fetlock, behind, and 
inside of his near fore-leg, grasping just 
below his fetlock, with the fingers on 
the coronet and the thumb above on 
the pastern. A horse which has been 
broken will yield his foot, bending his 
knee at once, but sometimes with such 
force that she must keep her head held 
up, so that there be no chance of contact 
with his heel. With the right hand she 
can examine his foot, after which she 
may pass to his off fore-foot, and then 
to the near hind-leg. 



196 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

For this she must stand close to his 
side, and stroke him firmly from the 
quarters to the hock. Passing her right 
hand under his hock to his fetlock, and 
grasping his foot as she did the fore 
one, she must raise it, letting the hock 
rest in the angle of her arm, while with 
her right hand she turns up the foot 
for inspection. She must not lean too 
far over or get back of the horse, or 
she is likely to be kicked if he offers 
any resistance. 

Then, too, she may unfasten the roll- 
er and throw back his blanket, that she 
may be sure the saddle has not rubbed 
his back. A slight abrasion of the skin, 
if treated at once, will require only a 
day or two to heal ; but if neglected for 
some days, the time will be greatly pro- 
longed. If any soreness is detected, the 
saddle should be looked to immediately 
and' the cause of the trouble remedied. 



KNOWLEDGE OF THE STABLE 197 

A shining coat is not positive proof 

that the horse is properly groomed. 

The hair should be rubbed the 
Grooming , ._ , 

wrong way, and if the skin 

leaves a whitish deposit on the fingers, 
it will be well for the horse's owner to 
watch the groom the next time the 
horse is dressed, and to insist upon its 
being thoroughly done. 

Much of what seems to be vice in a 
horse comes from his having been im- 
perfectly bitted when young, or 
from subsequently having his 
mouth roughly handled. He should al- 
ways be ridden in as easy a bit as pos- 
sible, as some horses go well and quietly 
in a plain snaffle, and will pull, bolt, or 
run in a curb or any severe contrivance. 
No rule can be given as to what bit will 
best control certain tendencies. Ex- 
perimenting with each kind will be the 
only means of finding out, but pulling 
14 



198 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

is as likely to arise from an over-sensi- 
tive mouth as from a hard one, in which 
case a rubber snaffle might prove effica- 
cious where a Chifney would fail. 

Sometimes certain parts of the mouth 
become callous, and a bit bearing on a 
different place might produce the de- 
sired result. Most horses will go well 
in a bit and bridoon, varied to suit their 
peculiarities by the height of the port, 
the length of the branches, and the 
pressure of the curb-chain. There are 
certain points which should always be re- 
garded. The mouth-piece must fit the 
horse's mouth exactly, being neither so 
narrow as to pinch him, nor so wide 
as to lose its power. The port should 
be the same width as the tongue-chan- 
nel, and no higher than required to 
leave room for the tongue. The curb- 
chain must be sufficiently tight to fur- 
nish leverage for the branches, yet not 



KNOWLEDGE OF THE STABLE 1 99 

SO tight as to pinch the jaw when no 
force is applied. 

Clipping horses in winter I have heard 

objected to on the ground of its being 

unsafe to deprive them of the 

Clipping 

thick coat which affords protec- 
tion from the cold. If their coat is 
thick and long, it is, in my opinion, 
much wiser to clip them, and for several 
very good reasons. Their work is rarely 
continuous, and the alternating of the 
heated with the cooling-off condition is 
very liable to work more or less injury. 
A heavy-coated horse which has been 
driven until very warm, and then left 
for half an hour to stand outside of a 
shop or house and become chilled by 
the wind striking the heavy wet coat, 
which frequently does not dry for 
hours, is likely to become a subject for 
the veterinary. 

On the other hand, if the horse is 



200 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

clipped, he does not get so warm in the 
first place, and, in the second, would 
cool off more quickly and without dan- 
ger of becoming chilled. In very cold 
weather quarter blankets will furnish all 
the protection necessary, and prevent 
the wind from striking the horse while 
standing. 

With saddle horses, although not so 
important, it is an advantage to have 
them clipped, because a cold day is cer- 
tain to make the rider go steadily to 
keep warm, and the horse, becoming 
overheated (if his coat is heavy), is in 
great danger of taking cold if permitted 
to stand for a moment in a draught. 

No woman who rides should be with- 
out a practical knowledge of how to 
saddle and bridle her horse, as 

Bridling , r. . ^ • ^ 

the groom often turns him out 
imperfectly bitted or girthed ; and un- 
less she knows how to do it herself, 



KNOWLEDGE OF THE STABLE 20I 

she will not perceive that anything is 
wrong until too late to prevent mis- 
chief. She should learn to hold the 
bridle by the headstall, in her left hand, 
as with the right she slips off the 
horse's halter, and throws the reins over 
his head. Then change it to the right 
hand, putting her left on the bits, which 
she gently inserts between his jaws. 
With the right she must pull his ears 
under the headstall, and then turn her 
attention to fitting the bridle. 

She must see that the headstall fits, 
that the forehead-band is not too tight, 
and that there is plenty of room be- 
tween the throat-latch and the throat. 
The snaffle-rein is fitted by the buckles 
of the cheek-piece, and should fall a 
trifle below the angle of the mouth. 
The curb needs careful adjustment, that 
the mouth-piece may rest exactly on 
the bars of the mouth. Then the chain 



202 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

must be hooked when quite flat on the 
chin -groove, but not tight enough, un- 
less used vigorously, to inconvenience 
the horse. The lip -strap should pass 
through the small ring attached to the 
curb-chain, thus keeping it in place. I 
like a bridle with buckles, or billets as 
they are called, rather than one which 
is stitched to the rings. In the first 
place, it is frequently desirable to change 
the bits, especially in a large stable, and 
being sewed would necessitate a bridle 
for each bit. Furthermore, when the 
bits are washed, the leather gets wet, 
and the stitching is apt to become 
rotten, and unexpectedly give way at 
a critical moment, when some unusual 
strain is put on it. 

A noseband furnishes additional con- 
trol over a horse ; but it should not be 

attached to the bridle, or it may 
Noseband . • i i 

mterfere with the action of the 



JFOREMEAD BAND 



••CHEEK PIECE OF CURB 
i CHECK PIECE Of SNAFFLE, 



SNAFFLE BIT ^ 



CURB CHAIN- 



CURB REIN"] 
SNAFFLf RE.IN4 



-UPPCR ARM OF CURB BIT 



-•MOUTH PIECE or CURB BIT 



-BRANCH OF Cur 8 BIT 



DOUBLE BRIDLE FOR GENERAL USE 



KNOWLEDGE OF THE STABLE 203 

bit. It should have a headstall and 
cheek -pieces, and be buckled tight 
enough to prevent the horse from 
opening his mouth too wide, but it 
must not restrain his breathing. 

If a martingale is used, I much pre- 
fer a running to a standing one. It 
is useful with star-gazers or 

Martingale 

horses that get their noses out 
too far. Some horses need one to steady 
them in hunting, but the running mar- 
tingale is the only one which should be 
tolerated in jumping, and then not be 
used unless necessary. It is attached 
to a girth, and at the two upper ends 
are sewed rings through which the snaf- 
fle passes. With a running martingale 
there must be a stop on each snaffle, 
considerably larger than the rings of 
the martingale; otherwise there is dan- 
ger of these rings getting caught in the 
bits, frightening the horse, and making 



204 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

him rear or back, as there is no way to 
release the pressure thus brought on his 
mouth. The length should be carefully- 
regulated, so that it will keep the horse's 
head at the desired height. This admits 
of considerable play to the horse, but 
within control of the rider, while with a 
standing martingale no liberty is attain- 
able. Once mounted, the rider cannot 
influence its bearing; and should the 
horse trip, he cannot fling up his head, 
as he must to regain his balance. 

For ordinary riding a breast-plate is 

not always used, but in hunting it is 

almost indispensable, and is 

Breast-plate , ... 

always a saieguard agamst a 

woman's saddle slipping back. It is put 
on over the horse's head with the reins, 
and one strap passes between his fore- 
legs, through the loop of which one 
of the girths passes. Two other ends 
buckle, one on each side of the saddle. 



KNOWLEDGE OF THE STABLE 



205 



near the horse's withers, and it should 
be loose enough to admit of free move- 
ment in galloping and jumping. 







CORRECT SADDLE 



The saddle should be very plain in 
appearance. It must have a 

The Saddle 

level seat, which can only be 



2o6 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

obtained in those having the tree cut 
away above the withers ; otherwise, to 
clear them, the saddle must be so ele- 




UNDESIRABLE SADDLE 

vated in front that it is sometimes six 
inches higher than the cantle, placing 
the knee in an awkward and fatiguing 



KNOWLEDGE OF THE STABLE 



207 



position, and it is impossible to rise 
without an unusual amount of exer- 
tion, which will lead to arching the 
back, thrusting the head forward, and 
probably galling the horse's withers. 
There should be no third pommel, such 
as there formerly was on the right side 
of the saddle, bending to the left over 
the right leg. 

The two pommels must fit the knees 
exactly, or the circulation will be im- 
peded, and a cramp brought on which 
renders the muscles powerless to grip 
the pommels. The seat must extend 
about an inch beyond the line of the 
spine, and, although I usually object 
to it, for a child the seat should be 
covered with buckskin. No more pad- 
ding should be used than is required to 
fit the horse's back, as it looks badly 
for the top of the saddle to be several 
inches above the horse. Moreover, the 



208 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

nearer one is to the animal's back, the 
greater will be the control. It enables 
one more readily to detect the stiffen- 
ing of the muscles when mischief is 
contemplated, and to be prepared to 
thwart it. It should not have any- 
superfluous straps, stitching, or at- 
tempts at ornamentation : the simpler 
the style the better; even the slit on 
the saddle-flap for the pocket is now 
frequently dispensed with. A safety 
pommel -band is sometimes fastened 
from the extreme upper forward end of 
the right saddle-flap to the top of the 
right pommel, thence to the left. This 
lessens the likelihood of a skirt becom- 
ing caught. 

On no account should a slipper stir- 
rup be used, but a safety stirrup without 
any padding, and one which does 
not work by having the bottom 
drop out, as these are apt to come to 



KNOWLEDGE OF THE STABLE 



209 



pieces when least desired, 
leaving the foot without 
any support. The best 
kind have the inner half- 
circle jointed in the mid- 
dle and working on a 
hinge at both sides, so 
that it can open only on 
being pulled from below, 
as in case of a fall. Next 
to this in safety comes a 
plain, small racing stirrup. 
The Fitz- William web 
girths are the best for 

a woman's saddle, /111 
Girths , . , . , . ^ 

white bemg used in safety stirrup, 

preference to darker ^"^"^^""^ 

shades. There are braided raw -hide 

and also cord girths, the former being 

very serviceable, but they do not look 

so well as either of the others. 

When the saddle is in position, free 




2IO 



HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



Saddling 



from the play of the 

shoulders, the 

first girth is tak- 
en up, then the back 
one, and kept clear of 
the horse's elbows, that 
his action may not be 
impeded. Although 
pulling the girths exces- 
sively tight is to be 
avoided, it will not do to 
leave them loose, as a 
woman's unevenly dis- 
tributed weight might 
cause the saddle to turn. 
Any wrinkles in the skin 
caused by the girthing 
should be smoothed away 
by passing the fingers be- 
tween the girths and the horse. Then 
the stirrup-leather is buckled, after this 
the outside leather strap that keeps the 




SAFETY STIRRUP, 
OPEN 



KNOWLEDGE OF THE STABLE 211 

saddle-flap in place, and finally the bal- 
ance-strap, which must be fairly tight, 
assists in keeping the saddle in posi- 
tion. Before mounting she should al- 
ways glance at the saddle and bridle, 
and be sure that they are properly put 
on ; otherwise her ride may be rendered 
uncomfortable, if not dangerous. 
15 



xin 

SOMETHING ON DRIVING 



NINETY -NINE women out of 
every hundred are firmly con- 
vinced that instruction is by no means 
Desirability of necessary to their driving 
Instruction gafely and in good form. 
Four men out of five labor under the 
same delusion. It is a sad error, that 
leads to numberless failures, and many 
accidents which might so easily be 
avoided if the services of a competent 
teacher were employed at the begin- 
ning. Having seen others drive with- 
out any apparent difificulty, the novice 
conceives the notion that there is noth- 
ing to learn which cannot be mastered 
without assistance after one or two at- 
tempts. If such a one escapes a bill of 



2l6 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

damages, it should be credited to the 
ministering care of her guardian angel. 
She may indeed escape accident ; she 
may learn to start without dislocating 
the neck of every one in the trap, and 
get around the corner without an up- 
set ; but she will never learn to drive. 
There is something more for her to 
know than that she must pull the off 
rein to turn to the right and the near 
one to go to the left, though this ap- 
pears to be the extent of knowledge 
deemed necessary. 

Women, even more than men, require 
a thorough understanding of what they 
are doing, for they lack the strength 
to rectify a miscalculation at the last 
moment. The ignorance, indecision, 
and weakness frequently displayed by 
women in driving are what so often 
render them objects of apprehension 
to experienced whips. 



SOMETHING ON DRIVING 217 

It is folly for any woman to flatter 
herself that she needs only a little 
practice, and that the rest "will come." 
If she has not begun correctly, practice 
will only wed her to the faults she must 
have acquired. 

Assuming, however, for the sake of 
argument, that, after having discounted 
her call on an all-protecting Providence 
and stricken with terror her long-suffer- 
ing friends, she manages to guide the 
family nag along the turnpike without 
the aid of a civil escort to clear the road 
before her — what of it ? She hasn't 
learned anything; her form is execra- 
ble ; and in case of an emergency she is 
quite as unprepared as when she took 
up the reins weeks before, with the ill- 
conceived notion that she was not of 
the common clay, and that a whip, 
rather than a rattle, had been the in- 
signia of her infantile days. 



2l8 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

How much better, safer, and more 
sensible to acquire good form than by 
its neglect to become an object of rid- 
icule to those who, by their knowledge 
of driving and exposition of superior 
horsemanship, are entitled to criticise 
others who have disregarded proper in- 
struction, and, wise in their own conceit, 
relied on their ignorance for guidance. 

Some women there are who drive 
Vulgar ^^^Y because they consider it the 
Display a pt-oper thing." Absorbed in the 
opportunity for display, and ignorant of 
the fitness of things, they array them- 
selves in the treasures of their ward- 
robe, more likely than not to be a gay 
silk, and, with every discordant ribbon 
and flounce of their bizarre costume 
loudly challenging the attention of the 
on-lookers, they sally forth perched on 
the box of a spider phaeton. Tilbury, or 
dog-cart, indifferent to, because ignorant 



SOMETHING ON DRIVING 219 

of, the incongruity of their turnout, un- 
conscious of the signal they have flung 
to the breeze, which unmistakably pro- 
claims their lack of early instruction. 

These are they who in the handling 
of their animals instantly call to mind 

the puppet-shows of our child- 
Bad Form 

hood days, and fill us with an 

almost irresistible desire to look under 
the box-seat and discover who is work- 
ing the invisible wires. Every move- 
ment is spasmodic — the arms work as 
though an alternating electric current 
were constantly being turned through 
them — the hands finger the reins ner- 
vously; and if the vehicle happens to 
be a two-wheeler, the unhappy driver 
looks as though every jolt of the poor- 
ly balanced cart would send her into 
the road from her very insecure seat. 

Another harrowing spectacle is that 
of the woman leaning forward, a rein in 



220 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

each hand, with her arms dragged al- 
most over the dash-board by her horse's 
mouth, a look of direful expectancy in 
her eyes, and a much be-flowered and 
be-ribboned hat occupying unmolested 
a rakish position over one ear, where it 
has fallen during her hopeless struggle 
with the reins. 

It is strange women should not have 

a sufficiently clear idea of the fitness of 

things to realize that elaborate 

Costume r -m i a n 

toilets of silks, laces, and flow- 
ers, and large hats, although appropriate 
in a victoria, are inconvenient and to- 
tally out of place when driving a sport- 
ing-trap, such as a dog-cart. 

A plain, neatly fitting, but not tight 
cloth suit, with a small hat, which will 
not catch the wind, is far more service- 
able and in better taste. However, she 
should avoid the other extreme affect- 
ed by the woman who desires to ap- 



SOMETHING ON DRIVING 22 1 

pear masculine and ''sporty," and who, 
showing a large expanse of shirt front, 
wears a conspicuous plaid suggestive of 
a horse-blanket. 

This specimen of feminine " horsy- 
hess " invariably drives with her hands 
held almost under her chin, and her 
whip in as vertical a position as herself. 
She is as powerless to control her ani- 
mal as is the one who leans over the 
dash-board. 

This is the sort of woman who com- 
pels her groom, if she have one, to 

wear a cockade in his hat, in ig- 
Cockade r i r i . 

norance of the fact that we in 

this country have no claim to its use. 
In Great Britain it is the distinguish- 
ing mark of either the royal family or 
the military, naval, or civil officers of 
the government; but used here it is 
only a meaningless affectation. 

To achieve success, and to obtain 



222 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

a business-like appearance in driving, 
a woman must possess confi- 

Confidence , . , , , , 

dence m her power to control 
her horses, and it must be the confi- 
dence derived from knowledge and skill, 
and not that born of ignorance or fool- 
hardiness. 

She must know what to do, and how 
to do it promptly, under all circum- 
stances, and this necessitates a thorough 
comprehension of the sport she is pur- 
suing. 

It is to be hoped she will gain this 
from competent instruction, and that 
she will embrace every opportunity of 
adding to her information on the sub- 
ject. 

A quiet, steady old horse, such as one 
might expect to see doing farm-work, 
The " Family-Horse " Cannot always be recom- 
Faiiacy mended even to a begin- 

ner, for he generally requires so little 



SOMETHING ON DRIVING 223 

management that when he does occa- 
sionally become unruly it is so unusual 
that the woman is taken unawares. 

Moreover, it makes one careless and 
slovenly always to drive a horse which 
goes along in a leisurely manner, with- 
out any display of life. 

A woman who has been accustomed 
to such an animal will be at a loss to 
manage a spirited pair, should she be 
called upon to do so. If she begin with 
a horse which goes well into his collar 
and does his work generously, she will 
learn twice as much as she would in the 
same time with a lazy horse, and will 
sooner be able to drive a pair. 

The position on the driving seat 

should be comfortable and firm, which 

cannot be the case when it is 

On the Box , 1,1 • , 

used merely to lean agamst, 
instead of to sit upon. 

From the knee down, the leg should 



224 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

be but slightly bent, with the feet to- 
gether and resting against the foot- 
rail. 

The elbows should be held near the 
body, and the reins in the left hand, with 
the little finger down, and the knuckles 
pointing straight ahead, about on a line 
with or a trifle below the waist, and in 
the middle of the body. 

Whether driving one or two horses, 
the manner of holding the reins is the 
same; but more strength and decision, 
as well as the judgment which, of course, 
experience will bring, are required for 
the pair. 

The near rein belongs on top of the 
first finger, held there firmly by the 
Position thumb, and the off rein should 
of Reins \^q between the second and 
third fingers. 

The gloves should be large, broad 
across the knuckles, and long in the fin- 



SOMETHING ON DRIVING 225 

gers; otherwise cold, stiff hands will re- 
sult from the impeded circulation. 

The right hand, close to the left, 
should contain the whip, which must 
be held at an angle of a little less than 
forty- five degrees, and at the collar, 
about eight to ten inches from the 
butt, so that it balances properly. 

When about to start, the reins should 
be tightened, to feel the horse's mouth, 

and a light touch of the whip 
Handling Reins 

Will suffice to send him for- 
ward. The hand should then yield, so 
that as he straightens the traces there 
will be no jerk on his mouth. 

In turning to the right or to the left, 
the reins must not be separated. 

The right hand should be placed on the 
rein, indicating the desired direction, un- 
til the turn has been made ; but a slight 
pressure on the opposite rein should keep 
the horse from going too near a corner. 
16 



2 26 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

The left hand must not relax its hold, 
so that when the right is removed the 
reins will be even, as they were be- 
fore. 

In stopping, the body is not to be bent 
backwards, suggestive of an expected 
shock, and the hands raised to the chin. 

It cannot be too strongly impressed 
on the woman's mind that the less per- 
ceptible effort she makes, the more skil- 
ful will she appear. Therefore, if she 
take hold of the reins with her right 
hand as far in front of the left as she 
can handily reach, and then draw them 
back, she will have accomplished her 
purpose in a quiet and easy manner. 

Driving a pair is much the same as 

driving one horse ; but allowances should 

be made for the peculiarities of 

A Pair 

each, and they should not be 
treated as though machines of identical 
construction. 



SOMETHING ON DRIVING 227 

Frequently a woman driving a ner- 
vous horse with a quiet one will hit 
them both with the whip, when, should 
she touch the quiet one only, the sound 
of it would urge the other as much as 
the blow does the dull one. 

Here is another objection to clucking 
to horses : one of them needs it much 
more than the other, yet they hear it 
with equal clearness, and simultaneous- 
ly ; therefore the high-mettled horse in- 
creases his pace sooner and more than 
his sluggish companion, and does more 
than his share of the work. Several 
noiseless touches of the whip, adminis- 
tered in quick succession to the laggard, 
will do more to equalize their pace than 
would a sharp, loud cut or any amount 
of clucking. 

Sometimes a woman will experience 
great inconvenience from not having her 
horses properly bitted and harnessed. 



2 25 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

This should always be seen to, either by 
herself or some one who is competent 
to judge for her. When she has more 
than one horse to control, she will soon 
become tired if one of them pulls and 
the other will not go into his collar. 

A judicious readjustment of the curb- 
chain and the coupling-rein will often 
make the difference between discom- 
fort and ease. 



XIV 

SOMETHING MORE ON DRIVING 



^T 7*HILE a horse is doing his work 

• • in a satisfactory manner he should 

not be irritated by having his mouth 

jerked and the whip appHed 
Management , . , 

for the drivers amusement. 
It is a pity all women do not realize 
that a horse will accomplish, with less 
fatigue, much more work when taken 
quietly than he will if fretted and tor- 
mented by needless urging or restraint. 
Constant nagging affects an animal in 
the same way as it does a human be- 
ing; and though a horse is usually sub- 
jected to such treatment through want 
of thought, it is none the less exasper- 
ating to him. 

One result of this ordeal is that it 



232 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

prompts him to break into a canter as 
he becomes restless ; and then he must 
be brought back to a trot by decreasing 
the speed and keeping the hands steady. 
A stumbling horse must be kept 
awake and going at a medium rate of 
speed. In either a very fast 

stumbling 1 . ,•, 1 

trot or a slow one he is likely 
to trip, and unless his driver is prepared 
for it, and ready to keep him up, he 
will probably fall, and she may be pulled 
over the dash-board. 

A bearing-rein may assist in keeping 
him on his feet, but an habitual stum- 
bler can never be considered safe. 
Such a horse must not be driven with 
loose reins, as a feeling on his mouth 
is necessary at all times. 

When a horse persistently backs, there 
are two great dangers: first, he may up- 
set the carriage, unless it cuts un- 
der; and, secondly, he may back 



SOMETHING MORE ON DRIVING 233 

into something or over an embank- 
ment. 

If the road be level, a woman must 
try to keep the horse from backing to 
one side, although in case of a steep de- 
clivity it may be necessary to pull him 
sideways, and risk an overturn rather 
than a fall over a bank. In all events, 
the whip should be vigorously applied, 
in the hope of starting the horse for- 
ward ; if the woman have a groom with 
her, he should go to the horse's head at 
once and lead him. 

Occasionally, backing may arise from 
sore shoulders caused by an ill-fitting 
collar; but if there is no such excuse 
for his action, and it should become a 
habit, the horse is not suitable for any 
woman to drive. 

If desirous of making a turn in a nar- 
row lane, it will often be necessary to 
back off the road, between trees or on 



234 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

to a foot-path, to obtain room. Some 
horses will not back under these cir- 
cumstances, nor from a shed where they 
have been tied. In most instances all 
that will be required is to get out, take 
the horse by his bridle, and by lightly 
tapping one foot make him raise it, at 
the same time pushing him back by the 
bit. The other foot should be moved 
in the same way, and this repeated until 
he has gone far enough. After a few 
steps the woman may resume her seat, 
with the probability of the horse back- 
ing without further resistance. 

If the horse is nervous, the pull at 
his mouth may make him back so fast 
Rearing and ^^^^ ^^ ^is excitement he will 

Kicking rear. In this event the reins 
should be loosened a moment and the 
animal quieted, after which the backing 
process may be continued. 

If the rearing comes from temper, and 



SOMETHING MORE ON DRIVING 235 

takes place when he has been going 
forward, there should be no weight on 
his mouth while he seems in danger of 
falling backward, but a cut of the whip 
administered as he comes down may 
prevent his trying it again. It is im- 
portant to feel his mouth at this junc- 
ture, as the whip will make him plunge 
forward, and the hold on his mouth 
must be firm enough to keep the traces 
loose as he lands ; otherwise there would 
be a sudden strain on them, and conse- 
quently an unpleasant jerk, which might 
bring the carriage on to his hocks, as he 
stopped to gather himself for another 
effort, and, even if it did not make 
him kick or run, he would probably be 
bruised. 

A determined kicker needs to have 
his head kept up, and for this purpose 
a bearing-rein will be found of great ser- 
vice. He should be driven with a kick- 



236 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

ing-strap, but it must not be too tight, 
or it will induce the habit it is intended 
to cure. He may kick if the crupper is 
too tight, so this also should be looked 
to. 

When a rein gets under the tail of a 
horse, under no circumstances should 
Rein under ^" attempt be made to pull it 

^*'' away. It should be pushed 
forward, and the horse spoken to in a 
reassuring manner. 

If he does not then release it, a slight 
cut of the whip may divert his atten- 
tion ; he will whisk his tail, and at this 
instant the rein must be allowed to fall 
to one side, as were it pulled directly 
up, it would be likely to be caught 
again. If these methods do not prove 
efificacious, a woman must try to keep 
the horse straight, and prevail upon 
him to walk until some one sees her 
predicament and comes to her assist- 



SOMETHING MORE ON DRIVING 237 

ance. In some traps she might be able 
to reach forward and remedy the diffi- 
culty, meanwhile watching for any symp- 
toms of kicking. But whether she does 
it herself or directs some one else, she 
must see that the tail is lifted, instead 
of an effort being made to pull the rein 
away. 

Many mishaps come from this seem- 
ingly trivial occurrence, and a horse 
frightened by improper treatment is 
liable to bolt or run. 

It is always an excellent plan to have 
a horse trained to stop short at the 
word ''whoa!" This expression is usu- 
ally misapplied, being made to do duty 
for "steady" or "quiet," and it will be 
difficult to teach a horse its true signifi- 
cance unless he is never driven without 
this end in view, and the term employed 
only when it is meant. 

In the event of a horse bolting, the 



238 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

chances are very great against a wom- 
Boiting and ^n's checking him. If she can 
Running ^^q j^ at all, it will be by saw- 
ing his mouth, and giving a succes- 
sion of sharp jerks, while endeavoring 
to control his course. 

The most dangerous and irrational 
thing she can do is to jump out of the 
trap. 

Severe injuries almost invariably at- 
tend such a proceeding ; and if it be 
possible to stay in, she should do so, 
never relinquishing her hold on the 
reins. If from the swaying of the car- 
riage she seems in danger of being 
thrown out, a woman must make sure 
that her skirts are not caught on any- 
thing, and that her feet are clear of the 
reins. 

Men sometimes pull a runaway horse 
into a ditch or up a steep bank, which 
stops him ; but a smash or an overturn is 



SOMETHING MORE ON DRIVING 239 

inevitable ; and should a woman attempt 
this, there is great danger of her being 
unable to extricate herself from the 
tangle. She is handicapped by her 
skirts, which are more than likely to 
cause her to be dragged should the 
horse manage to start off again. Be- 
sides this, after a struggle such as she 
will have had, a woman will seldom 
have enough strength left to force a 
horse from the direction he has chosen. 

In whatever pranks horses indulge, 
the dangers are multiplied and inten- 
Crowded sified when encountered by a 
Driveways woman who ventures to drive 
in a crowded park or avenue during 
the afternoon. 

Women of culture and refinement, 
realizing this, and wishing to avoid 
making themselves conspicuous on pub- 
lic highways, are content to be driven 
at this hour, reserving the mornings for 



240 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

the pleasure of handling the reins them- 
selves. 

Some women there are who drive bet- 
ter than most coachmen, and a few of 
these may desire to display their skill 
and their well-appointed traps when the 
spectators are most numerous. They 
may be competent to make their way 
through such a maze as one finds on 
popular carriage roads, but they do it 
in defiance of the condemnation they 
will receive from people of more refined 
ideas. 

The majority of women who drive are 
unable to control their horses, and they 
need not flatter themselves that their 
immunity from accidents is the result 
of their skill. They owe their safety to 
the fact that men, appreciating the un- 
certainty of their movements, give them 
plenty of room, and keep as far as they 
can from anything driven by a woman. 



SOMETHING MORE ON DRIVING 241 

Such women would be less objection- 
able if they were more considerate of 
Road others. Forexample, they should 
Courtesy i^eep on their own side of the 
drive, and, if they are going slowly, as 
much to the right of it as possible, that 
those who desire to pass may not have 
their way blocked. 

Again, they should remember that 
some one is behind them, and that they 
should not endeavor to turn or stop 
abruptly without having intimated their 
intention to those in the rear. 

Another heedless thing they do is, 
in passing a leading trap to turn in 
ahead of it so sharply that a more care- 
ful driver is forced to pull up rather 
than endanger his horses by having the 
wheels swing against them. 

Women seem to forget now and then 
that they must always pass to the left 
of a vehicle in front of them, and not 
17 



242 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

try to get through a small space on its 
right. If they would only take a few 
lessons in driving, pay attention to the 
instruction they receive, and cultivate 
consideration for others, their presence 
on the box might be welcomed more 
frequently and with greater warmth 
than it now is. 

It would be well if equestrians rode 
with more regard for the convenience 
of those who are driving. When a bri- 
dle-path is provided for them, there is 
no reason why they should usurp any of 
the road intended for carriages. They 
would feel outraged, and justly so, if 
one vehicle should appear on their road ; 
yet swarms of them daily use the drive, 
occupying much-needed space, and clat- 
tering and darting along, unmindful of 
startled horses and the narrow escapes 
of their own mounts from collisions with 
many wheels. 



SOMETHING MORE ON DRIVING 243 

Comparatively few women are so fort- 
unate as to have an opportunity to drive 
Tandems and tandem or four-in- hand. If 

Teams ^^^^y ^^^ g^ situated that they 
would be likely to do so frequently, they 
should not hesitate to take lessons, as 
otherwise they would slowly learn from 
many dangerous and costly experiences 
what a trustworthy teacher could have 
shown them with safety and expedition. 
However, it is well to be prepared for 
all contingencies, and therefore many 
women may desire to know something 
about these branches of driving, in case 
they should in some unforeseen manner 
have an opportunity to essay them. 

If, for instance, she were driving with 
a friend who offered to let her take the 
reins, a woman would not be expected 
to look to the harnessing and bitting, 
but there are a few points she might 
be glad to know. 



244 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

The reins are held the same in tan- 
dem and team-driving. The first finger 
separates the leaders' reins, and the 
second those of the wheelers, with 
each near rein above the off one. Thus 
over the first finger will be the near 
leader, under it the off leader, and be- 
tween this rein and the second finger 
the near wheeler, with the off wheeler 
between the second and third fingers. 
The right hand must be free to hold 
the whip and to manipulate the reins. 

The off- wheel rein will often need 

attention, as the third finger is not 

so strong as the other two used, and 

therefore this rein will more readily 

'slip through. 

In changing a rein it must always be 
done by pushing it back from in front 
of the hand, instead of pulling it through 
from behind. 

The correct handling of the whip can 



SOMETHING xMORE ON DRIVING 245 

be mastered only after much patience 
and constant practice, but its proper 
use is of paramount importance. 

Women will find driving tandem eas- 
ier than driving four, because, although 
it requires more skill to keep the horses 
straight, it does not call for the amount 
of muscle needed to manage four horses, 
the brake, and whip. 

At first the weight alone of the reins 
would tire her, and of course there 
are more chances of mishaps with four 
horses than with two. In the latter 
the leader has no horse at his side to 
steady him ; but if well trained he will 
travel straight, and not attempt to turn 
around and join the wheeler. Should 

Unruly ^^ ^^ ^^^^' ^^^ ^^^ respond to the 
Leader reins, the whip should hit his neck 
with force sufficient to make him change 
his mind. 

As a last resort, the wheeler must be 



246 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

turned to follow him, and then they 
must both be made to proceed in the 
direction desired by the driver. If the 
leader, instead of being exactly in front 
of the wheeler, gets too far to the right, 
his near rein should be shortened ; but 
the wheeler must be made to meet him 
half-way by pulling his off rein at the 
same time. In the opposite case the 
off-lead and near-wheel reins must be 
shortened. 

To turn a corner, say to the left, with 
a tandem or a four, the near-lead rein 
should be looped by taking up 
several inches, pushing it back of 
the forefinger, and holding it there in 
this shape with the thumb. The right 
hand must be placed on both off reins, 
to guard against the turn being made 
too sharply, and the cart or coach being 
brought into contact with the corner. 
To turn to the right, the reverse tactics 



SOMETHING MORE ON DRIVING 247 

are employed, but it is more difficult to 
loop the off rein. 

When the corner has been success- 
fully rounded, the right hand should be 
taken away and the left thumb raised, 
thus leaving the horses in a position to 
go straight. 

In going downhill all the reins should 
be shortened, and care taken that the 
leaders' traces particularly are loose, 
or they may pull the wheelers down 
when these should be holding back the 
coach. 

The wheelers should always, if possi- 
ble, start and stop the load. 

In going uphill the leaders must do 
their full share, and on the level each 
horse must be kept up to his work. 

An unnecessary nervous fingering of 
the reins should be avoided, as, besides 
being most unworkmanlike, it irritates 
the horses. 



248 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 

It is the height of folly for a woman 
to attempt to drive a tandem or a four- 
in-hand until she is thoroughly familiar 
with one horse and a pair. She may 
understand the theory of it, but until 
she has had some practice under prop- 
er instruction she should not take the 
reins, unless some one is near to assist 
her, or she will endanger not only her 
own safety, but jeopard that of those 
who may accompany her. 



FINIS 



BLAIKIE'S HOW TO GET STRONG. 

How to Get Strong, and How to Stay 
So. By William Blaikie. Illus- 
trated. i6mo, Cloth, $1 oo. 
Mr. Blaikie has treated his theme in a 
practical common-sense way that appeals at 
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A complete and healthful system of exercise 
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advice for daily exercise for children, young 
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gymnastics, and an easy routine of practice 
laid out. — Saturday Evening Gazette^ Boston. 
Every word of it has been tested and con- 
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may be read with interest and profit by all. 
— Christian Listructor^ Chicago. 

A successful performance, everything in 
the line of gymnastic exercise receiving co- 
pious illustrations by pen and pencil. The 
author's aim is genuinely philanthropic, in 
the right sense of the word, and his work is 
a useful contribution to the cause of physical 
culture. — Christian Register^ Boston. 



Published by HAEPER & BEOTHERS, NewYork. 

^W^ The above work will be sent by mail, postage prepaid, 
to any part of the United States, Canada, or Mexico, on receipt 
of the price. 



BLAIKIE'S SOUND BODIES, 

Sound Bodies for our Boys and Girls. 

By William Blaikie. With Illus- 
trations. i6mo, Cloth, 40 cents. A 
manual of safe and simple exercises 
for developing the physical system. 



Mr. William Blaikie's new manual cannot 
fail to receive a warm welcome from parents 
and teachers, and should be introduced as a 
working text-book into thousands of schools 
throughout the country. — Boston Hefald. 

A book which ought to be placed at the 
elbow of every school-teacher. — Springfield 
Union. 

The directions are so simple and sensible 
that they appeal to the reason of every par- 
ent and teacher. — Philadelphia Press. 

The influence of judicious exercise upon 
mind as well as body cannot be overesti- 
mated, and this will be a safe guide to this 
end, requiring no costume nor expensive 
apparatus. — Presbyterian, Philadelphia. 



Published by HAEPEE & BEOTHEES, NewYork. 

^g" The above luork will be sent by >nail, postage prepaid, 
to any part 0/ the United States, Canada, or Mexico, on receipt 
oftJie price. 






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